Vossloh Euro Dual

The Vossloh Euro Dual is a design of dual power, electro-diesel locomotive by Vossloh Espana. Two versions of the design have been ordered; 10 units for the United Kingdom and 50 units for South Africa.

Background

At Innotrans 2012, Vossloh launched a range of dual mode locomotives - initial offers included the DM30 based on the Vossloh DE18, and the EuroDual locomotives derived from its diesel Euro 4000 and EuroLight classes. Initial descriptions were of a Co'Co' locomotive with 5MW electrical power and 0.7 to 2.8 MW (940 to 3,750 hp) diesel power, with an axle load from 17 to 22.5 t (16.7 to 22.1 long tons; 18.7 to 24.8 short tons).^[3] Subsequent orders differed from the initial specifications, with orders from the UK and South Africa being for Bo-Bo locomotives.^[2]

Orders

British Rail Class 88

In September 2013, UK rail operator Direct Rail Services announced it had ordered ten Euro Dual locomotives, with a 700 kW engine, and 4MW rating electrical equipment (25KV AC operation).^[4] The type are to be given the UK class number 88. The design is a development of the British Rail Class 68 (Vossloh UKLight) diesel locomotives that Direct Rail Services introduced in 2014, having the bodyshell, cab, brakes, bogies, traction equipment and control software in common,^[2] the diesel engine is a 950 hp (710 kW) Caterpillar C27.^[5] The UK locomotives will comply with Euro III B emission limits.^[6][7]

In April 2016 one vehicle was transferred to the Velim railway test circuit for testing.^[8]

South Africa

In October 2013, Swifambo Rail Leasing placed a €250 million order for 50 Euro Dual and 20 Euro 4000 diesel locomotives, to be leased to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) for use on Shosholoza Meyl services. The Euro Dual locomotives were to be Bo-Bo vehicles with 2.8MW diesel power and a top speed of 140 km/h.^[9][10]

In late 2015 PRASA began proceedings in the High Court of South Africa to terminate the contract for both the Afro4000 and Euro-Dual locomotives ordered from Vossolh, and to be repaid the R2.65-billion already expended. A specific problem cited was that the supplied diesel locomotives were substantially out of gauge for parts of the network, being 4.14m high, as opposed to a 3.965m limit specified by the government infrastructure and logisitics organisation Transnet). PRASA also claimed that Swifambo lacked the necessary experience, and or certification to be awarded the contract, and that Swifambo had failed to meet the terms of the bidding process, in that it lacked experience in the supply of railway equipment.^[11][12]

References