The ERA has granted vehicle type approval for two locomotives from the DE 18 series, including the DE 18 SmartHybrid, for France, Belgium and Luxembourg. For both the Kiel-based manufacturer Vossloh Rolling Stock and the launching-customer Nexrail, the homologation is an important milestone in their cooperation.
With the multi-country homologation (F/B/L) granted on 06 December 2024 by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) for two types of the DE 18 series, the universal locomotive simultaneously adds a two new chapter to its operational life. First, it marks the approval of Europe’s first diesel-battery hybrid locomotive in the universal centre-cab segment. This solidifies the DE18s pivotal role in the transition of the rail market toward a fossil-free future. Second, it means the debut of the DE 18 in Belgium and the first centre-cab locomotive to combine the three countries. ‘Europe needs greener freight transport. Our DE 18 locomotives and DE 18 SmartHybrid in particular are setting the right course for this goal,’ emphasises Henrik M. Egeter, Spokesman of the Management Board of Vossloh Rolling Stock. ‘With the three- country version for France, Belgium and Luxembourg, we enable our customers – above all Nexrail – to use a highly efficient locomotive in cross-border traffic in every respect.’ While the diesel-electric DE 18 locomotive has been highly reliable in shunting, railway construction and mainline operations since its TSI approval and market launch in 2014, it has continually moved with the times, for example with the introduction of the Stage V engine for cleaner operation in 2022. The DE 18, as the most powerful centre-cab locomotive in Europe, continues to set standards in the railway industry with its powerful drive system. At the same time, thanks to the possibility of using environmentally friendly HVO fuel in combination with intelligent operating modes, it offers considerable advantages both in terms of operating costs and low-emission operation.
In 2021, Nexrail signed a 120 locomotive framework agreement with Vossloh Rolling Stock for the purchase of the DE 18 SmartHybrid.
‘Since varied and quite demanding areas of application await the DE 18 locomotives,’ says Luuk von Meijenfeldt, CEO of Nexrail, ’we welcome the multi-country approval that has been achieved. We also appreciate that Vossloh Rolling Stock deliberately opted for a joint approval application for the DE 18 F/B/L (MV28003) and the DE 18 SmartHybrid F/B/L (MV28004). This enabled an efficient and time-saving process without a second, subsequent approval process.’
To fulfil the national requirements, the entire process was carried out in close cooperation with the authorities in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. The assessment was carried out by long-standing partner Certifer Belgorail. While the homologation for France and Luxembourg were technically updated, the DE 18 has now been approved for Belgium for the first time. The DE 18 SmartHybrid receives its initial homologation.
