Belgian Railways Class 28 (Bombardier)

The NMBS/SNCB Class 28 number series has been brought back into use for 43 Bombardier TRAXX locomotives which have been hired from Angel Trains Cargo for use with B-Cargo, the freight division of NMBS/SNCB, since renamed Lineas.[1] They are numbered in two series - they carry their original numbers, E186 123 to E186 125, and E186 196 to E186 220, and have also been numbered into the SNCB number series, 2801 to 2843.[1]

NMBS/SNCB Class 28
Bombardier TRAXX locomotive E186 124 exhibited during the NMBS/SNCB open days at Antwerpen-Noord workshops. This locomotive is now renumbered to 2802.
Type and origin Power type DC Electric Builder Bombardier Transportation Model TRAXX F140 MS2 Build date 2007-2009 Total produced 43
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo'Bo' Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Bogies Bo-Bo Length 18,900 mm (62 ft 0 in) Width 2,978 mm (9 ft 9.2 in) Axle load 21.25 t (20.91 long tons; 23.42 short tons) Loco weight 85 t (83.66 long tons; 93.70 short tons) Electric system/s 1.5 kV DC 3.0 kV DC 25 kV 50 Hz AC 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC Current pickup(s) Pantograph
Performance figures Maximum speed 160 km/h (99 mph) Power output 5,600 kW (7,500 hp) Tractive effort 300 kN (67,000 lbf) Factor of adh. 2.8 (35.7%)
Career Operators B-Cargo Class 28 Number in class 43 Numbers 2801-2843 Delivered 2007-2009 Current owner Alpha Trains Disposition In service

It was planned that they would work passenger services between Amsterdam, Brecht, Brussels and Antwerp.[1] Several are now running on push-pull Benelux trains, alongside NS Class 186 (NS TRAXX F140 MS). These trains have a locomotive at each end ; some trains feature a Class 186 at one end and a Class 28 at the other one.

They also work on the heavy freight corridor between Aachen-West, Antwerp, and Zeebrugge.

The original Class 28 locomotives were produced by Baume-Marpent in 1949.