Bombardier Presents First Multisystem Locomotive for SBB
Cargo
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--MAY 18, 2004 - 09:45 ET
(CCNMatthews - May 18, 2004) - Bombardier
Transportation today presented its first multisystem locomotive
for Switzerland. It is also the 34,000th locomotive to be built
in Kassel since 1848. A total of 18 Bombardier(i) TRAXX(i) MS
electric freight locomotives were ordered in May 2003 by Swiss
Federal Railways. The locomotives are scheduled for delivery from
October 2004 to March 2005. Designed both for AC and DC systems,
they are to be used for freight services between Switzerland and
Italy.
"The multisystem locomotive presented today is an important
milestone in the over 150-year history of locomotive manufacture
at the Kassel site," said Edmund Schlummer, President,
Locomotives & Freight, Bombardier Transportation. "We are
providing our customer with an extremely modern product that will
noticeably improve its competitive edge on trans-European rail
freight services."
The modular design of the TRAXX MS locomotive enables it to be
equipped with the very latest in high-performance electronics
systems both for Switzerland's 15 kV AC network and Italy's 3 kV
DC network. The MITRAC(i) lightweight propulsion system is very
compact, and is setting standards in the economic consumption of
energy. Both the Swiss and the Italian train protection systems
are installed. This means that the multisystem locomotives meet
all the requirements for cross-border freight services,
particularly on the Bellinzona - Luino - Gallarate route.
Due to the commonality that results from Bombardier's consistent
platform strategy, the multisystem locomotive incorporates
numerous standard parts, allowing its smooth integration into SBB
Cargo's current fleet of 50 dual system freight locomotives
supplied by Bombardier. This synergy effect allows SBB Cargo to
reduce costs in the areas of maintenance and training. The 298
TRAXX locomotives currently in service in Germany and Switzerland
now have a proven track record of well over 54 million
kilometres. The guarantee exceptionally high availability levels
and low costs for operation and maintenance.
The development of the 15 kV AC locomotives, which have a top
speed of 140 km/h and an output of 5.6 MW, has been carried out
to a large extent at Bombardier's facilities in Oerlikon and
Turgi (Switzerland). They will be built in Kassel and
subsequently commissioned in Switzerland by Bombardier.
The Kassel site was founded over 150 years ago by Carl Anton
Henschel. The first locomotive to leave the factory - the
"Dragon" - paved the way for the 34,000 steam, diesel and
electric locomotives that have been produced since. Kassel also
produced countless developments that have revolutionized the
history of locomotive design and manufacture. In 1898, the
company manufactured the world's first superheater passenger
train locomotive with what was at that time an impressive power
output. The first standard locomotive, a Class 02 four-cylinder
superheater express compound locomotive, was also produced in
Kassel, as were high and medium-pressure locomotives and
condensing locomotives. Express locomotives became a worldwide
sensation in the 1930s achieving top speeds of up to 175 km/h and
even 186 km/h. The 200 km/h mark was passed by the E 19 electric
express locomotive, which was delivered in 1940. Its top speed of
225 km/h was not exceeded until 1970 by the now legendary E 03,
travelling at 286 km/h. Then, at the beginning of the 90s, also
built in Kassel, came the ICE power cars that were even faster.
Last year, Bombardier's production facilities in Kassel built a
total of 153 electric and diesel locomotives for the German and
the international market.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation
solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail
transportation equipment, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation
headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended
Jan. 31, 2004, were $15.4 billion US and its shares are traded on
the Toronto, Brussels and Frankfurt stock exchanges (BBD, BOM and
BBDd.F). News and information are available at
www.bombardier.com.
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