Locomotives
Europe’s locomotive manufacturers, and with the prolonged downturn in freight volumes in the wake of the global economic crisis, the recovery of the locomotive market has been frustratingly slow. Yet there are grounds for optimism.
A significant chunk of Europe’s diesel locomotive fleet is well over 20 years old, and despite the spread of electrification it is clear that there is an imminent need to replace life-expired, polluting equipment. The German Railway Industry Association (VDB) says
Four into C
OMPARED with the heady days of the late-2000s, these are certainly tough times for
One
Bombardier’s multi-engined Traxx DE ME was one of the star exhibits at InnoTrans in September, with visitors waiting up to 40 minutes for the chance to see inside this innovative locomotive. With the need for lower emissions and greater fuel economy becoming ever more pressing, Keith Barrowasks whether four engines might be better than one.
that more than 600 diesel locomotives are over 30-years old and still operating in Germany with their original engines. The association has suggested the federal government offers operators environmental grants of 20% off the price of new locomotives to both kick-start production and rid
the network of its dirtiest machines. In the meantime, suppliers have focused their efforts on pushing forward diesel locomotive technology to meet the stringent EU Stage IIIB emissions standards, introduced in January this year, while continuing to address fuel consumption and maintenance costs. At the InnoTrans exhibition in Berlin in September, Bombardier revealed its answer to the twin challenges of greater efficiency and lower emissions, the Traxx DE ME. This
locomotive has the now-
familiar
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48