Siemens Mobility Deploys Final Extreme-Weather Vectron Locomotives for Finnish Rail

The Vectron locomotive fleet to Finland has now been fully delivered by Siemens Mobility. Finnish railway company VR ordered the fleet in early 2014. All 80 Vectron electric locomotives were supplied within the contract deadline. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

At the time of signing, it was the largest single order for the Vectron platform. It also marked the locomotive type’s first deployment on Finland’s broad-gauge railway network. At that point, it represented the biggest rolling stock investment in VR Group’s history.

“The completion of this order highlights the versatility of the Vectron platform and our expertise in managing complex locomotive projects, from design adaptation to final delivery,” said Steffen Bobsien, Vice President of the Locomotives and Rolling Stock Division at Siemens Mobility.

Vectron electric locomotives prepared for Finnish conditions

For VR, the Vectron fleet was configured for demanding Nordic railway operations. The locomotives were adapted to operate reliably in severe weather. This includes temperatures down to –40°C. They also meet the operational and regulatory requirements of rail transport in Northern Europe.

Siemens Mobility manufactured the vehicles at its Munich plant in Germany. Meanwhile, the bogies were produced in Graz, Austria.

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The locomotives were delivered in phases during the project. They have now been fully integrated into VR’s fleet for passenger and freight transport. To date, they have covered approximately 72 million kilometers in service.

“Operational reliability is a key factor for our rail transport customers, which is why we invest in rolling stock in a long-term and systematic manner. Developed for the demanding conditions in Finland, the Sr3 electric locomotives serve both passenger transport and heavy freight traffic, and this investment strengthens the operational reliability of rail transport, supporting Finnish industry and passenger transport services, now and in the future,” said Joonas Roivainen, Vice President of Fleet Management at VR.

Vectron platform use across different rail environments

The Vectron platform is designed as a modular and flexible locomotive family. Its versions are suitable for environments ranging from polar cold to desert heat. Siemens Mobility has now sold more than 2,900 Vectron-family locomotives to over 110 customers.

In addition, the fleet has recorded about 1.35 billion kilometers in service. Locomotives based on the platform are authorized for operation in 20 European countries.

With the Finnish contract completed, Siemens Mobility is consolidating its experience in standardized locomotive platforms. These platforms can be adapted for different track gauges, operating environments, and regulatory frameworks worldwide.

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