Belgian train deal for Siemens

The Belgian National Railway Company SNCB has placed an order worth €211m with Siemens Transportation Systems for 60 electric multi-system locomotives with an option for 60 more.

The deal represents the first order of electric locomotives for Siemens in Belgium. The 6000kW multi-system Eurosprinter ES60U3 type locomotives are to be delivered between January 2009 and June 2010. They are based on the Taurus model, a brand of Eurosprinter that is operating for Austrian Federal Railways.

The ES60U3 will replace older locomotives in the passenger rail sector and also provide additionally required capacity.

Built for a top speed of 200 km/h, the Eurosprinter ES60U3 is also suitable for operation on Belgium's L2 high speed line linking Brussels and Liege. According to Siemens, the new locomotives should also be certified to operate on neighboring countries’ railway network and in cross-border traffic.