Three different Vectron-locomotives were present at the outside track area of InnoTrans 2014. Two were taken there by Siemens, one by leasing company MRCE. Nice extra: Vectron cab-modules could be also be found in both the inside and outside booth of the German manufaturer. In the outside booth Siemens used the cab-module for demonstrating the use of augmented reality during maintenance and service of rolling rolling stock. (The other module predominantly served as bar.)

Siemens took the electric Siemens Vectron AC locomotive no. 193 970 to Berlin. This is a stock locomotive (no.21924) built in 2014 and off-factory equipped for services in Germany, Austria and Hungary. Its top speed is 200 kph and it has a 6.4 MW power output, the most commonly sold configuration for such a machine right now. After 2010 and 2012, it is the third time brings the Vectron AC to InnoTrans, without major changes. The novelties of the 970 are therefore limited to its signalling equipment. After the fair, the white machine will serve as a test bed locomotive in Norway, Sweden and Denmark countries. At the fair the machine was already equipped with the necessary ATC and with ETCS equipment.

Siemens Vectron locomotives are already being used in Norway (CargoNet) and Sweden (Bla Taget for example), but the missing link here is Denmark. Once homologation for this country is completed, Siemens will be able to offer its customers a 'bridge'-locomotive, a machine that connects Germany and beyond with northern Scandinavia. Until now only Bombardier has such a product in its portfolio (Traxx AC2 DE/AT/DK/SE/NO). When maintaining the HU-approval for the Vectron, its package could be just a little more complete compared to its Traxx opponent, although it is up to the market if this will become reality.

For Innotrans 2014, the 193 970 got promotional marks about Easy Spares. Siemens' program for spare part services.

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The second Siemens Vectron locomotive at the fair, has a subscription to the event, we guess. It is presented for the third time already (2010, 2012, 2014). It is the one and only diesel-version ('Vectron DE') produced on the basis of the platform until now. In the past four years, the '247 901' designated locomotive has been used for many trials in Germany and Austria, testing many different components. However, this has not resulted in a firm order for the Vectron DE. The market potential of such a machine in Western Europe is limited anyway.

The exterior of the machine slightly changed over the years. Promotional stickers were replaced in between the three fairs. This time the 247 901 features a 'Cheetron' or a 'Vectah', symbolizing the efficiency of the 160 kph diesel-electric. Also, the locomotive has not got a destination display up front anymore.

During the fair, Siemens announced that it officially received the full authorization of the Vectron DE for Germany. It is the first approval for the DE. With the AC- and MS-variants, now all Vectron-base versions have approval for Germany.

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Vectron no.3 at Innotrans 2014 was one of Siemens' customers, lease company MRCE, that featured the specially restyled X4 E-875. MRCE has currently received 17 Vectron AC-locomotives. Their number will grow to 35 units at the end of 2015. The X4 E series (as MRCE calls its Vectron-machines) must be seen as the successor of the MRCE ES 64 U2 series, being built by Siemens in 2000-2005. One by one MRCE is selling these machines to railway operators.

The X4 E-875 is homolgated for Germany, Austria and Hungary and has a top speed of 200 kph. Next to freight operators, it is therefore available to MRCE customers that are planning faster passenger services.

Just before the fair, X4 E-875 got a new livery in Munich. This new livery features many important destination cities from all over Europe. Its symbolizes the interoperability MRCE offers to its customers with its locomotive fleet in general. The particular locomotive shown at Innotrans has a much more limited service domain. Additionally, the X4 E-875 has additional logos of its current operator, being Transpetrol from Germany. It is currently one of the heavy users of MRCE Vectron-machines.

More information about these locomotives: