NEXRAIL Orders 20 Additional DE18 Smart Hybrids Locomotives
Kiel, January, 2025 – NEXRAIL and Vossloh Rolling Stock have signed an agreement for 20 additional DE18 Stage V SmartHybrid locomotives. Envisaged delivery is in 2027. The locomotives will be delivered with an upgraded homologation, including ETCS Level 2 (BL3.6) and Germany (PZB), in addition to the existing multi-country approvals for France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. With this order, NEXRAIL’s DE18 Smart Hybrid fleet will grow to 50 locomotives. This fleet expansion marks an important step in providing rail freight operators across Europe with modern, efficient, and low-emission traction solutions for traffic on non-electrified lines.
The Vossloh DE18 Smart Hybrid locomotive is a universal, 4-axle mid-cab locomotive with a powerful (1,800kW) and fuel-efficient diesel engine with reduced ecological footprint (Stage V emission standards) as well as an additional traction battery. It can be used flexibly for both shunting and regional mainline services and is also designed for track construction and rescue operations.
The traction battery has been upgraded to 106 kWh and enables more than an hour of emission-free, low-speed operation. It also serves as an extended start-stop system, which can lead to fuel savings of 15-40% depending on the use case.
Upgrade Homologation: Ready for ETCS Level 2 in Belgium
The 2027 DE18 Smart Hybrid will be equipped with an upgraded ETCS level 2 baseline 3.6. This upgrade is important for Belgian operators, as the Belgian network will switch to ETCS-only operation by the end of 2027.
New in Germany
The upgrade homologation will also add Germany to the existing multi-country homologation package of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. To ensure optimal visibility, NEXRAIL will equip the left cabin with a dedicated camera system.
All NEXRAIL’s locomotives will be upgraded to the expanded homologation version in the course of 2027.
Stronger together
’’We are pleased that we can continue to service our clients in Western Europe, and now also in Germany, with new-build, low-emission hybrid locomotives. The investments in infrastructure, especially in Germany, require modern rolling stock,” says Luuk von Meijenfeldt, CEO of Nexrail.
“The DE18SH has provided us with a reliable and flexible solution for the first part of our operations in Belgium, allowing us to handle our initial movements more independently and efficiently. It has also helped reduce energy consumption when hauling heavy trains. Nexrail has supported us well during the integration of the locomotives into our operations,” says Bart Smout, Managing Director of HSL Belgium, who has been operating several DE18SH locomotives over the years.
NEXRAIL
NEXRAIL is a leading European locomotive leasing company, dedicated to supporting the transition of rail freight towards zero-emission traction. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Luxembourg, the company is backed by a fund managed by InfraVia Capital Partners and already operates a fleet of 130+ low emission, hybrid and dual-mode locomotives, rapidly expanding across Western Europe.
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Media contact
Esther de Jong
Marketing Communications
Phone: +31 (815) 43 983
Email: esther.dejong@nexrail.lease
www.nexrail.lease