First HDB 800 Locomotives Under Assembly

Recently, Deutsche Bahn has awarded further contracts in connection with the trend towards multi-source locomotives. On 18 January 2022, DB Cargo and DB Bahnbaugruppe ordered 50 Vectron Dual Mode light locomotives from Siemens Mobility. Also on 18 January 2022, it was announced that DB Cargo and Vossloh Locomotives (now Vossloh Rolling Stock) had signed an order for 50 hybrid locomotives of the new Type DM 20-BDD, in September 2022 named Modula. 

At the same time, DB Cargo reminded that the third pillar of its current strategy to replace old diesel locomotives is the purchase of 100 Type HDB 800 hybrid shunters from Toshiba Railway Europe. This type was first presented to the general public at the transport logistic in June 2019, at that time still in the form of a non-operational demonstrator, but with real traction equipment already in place.

On 23 January 2020, DB Cargo publicly confirmed an order for 50 Type HDB 800 machines with the purchase outright and another 50 on lease from Railpool. The locomotives will have two diesel gensets, which are the source of power and which can be switched on or off independently as required. Two independent traction SCiB lithium-ion batteries from Toshiba are used to store energy and enable emission-free operation of the vehicle in required areas. The redundant drive solution increases the reliability of the HDB 800 locomotive. 

Despite difficult circumstances - particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and supply problems caused by the situation in Ukraine - important milestones in the development and production of the Type HDB 800 have been completed this year. Specifications and requirements were developed and approved, then powertrain components such as the traction generator and inverter were manufactured and partially tested by DB in spring 2022. 

The building of six pre-series locomotives at Talbot Services of Aachen began with the assembly of the main frame in autumn 2022. Batch production will be carried out at the DB Cargo’s Rostock depot where preparations for the production start is already underway.