Belgian Railways Class 18 (Siemens)

The SNCB/NMBS HLE 18 (Siemens class ES60U3) are a series of four axle Bo′Bo′ multivoltage electric Siemens EuroSprinter locomotives ordered in two batches of sixty in 2006 and 2008.

"Belgian Railways Class 18" and "SNCB Class 18" redirect here. For the earlier locomotive, see Belgian Railways Class 18 (Alsthom).
HLE 18, HLE 19
EuroSprinter ES60U3
1857 at Brugge-Sint-Pieters railway station.
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderSiemens
ModelEuroSprinter ES60U3
Build datefirst 60 : 2008-2010[1]
second 60 : 2010-2011[1]
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICBo′Bo′
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter1,250 mm (49 in)
Length19,580 mm (64 ft 3 in)
Loco weight88 t (86.61 long tons; 97.00 short tons)
Electric system/s3,000 V DC
1,500 V DC
25 kV 50 Hz AC
Current pickup(s)2 Pantographs (DC or 25 kV 50 Hz)
Loco brakedisc brakes, rheostatic/regenerative electrical braking
Train brakespneumatic
Safety systemsETCS 1 and 2, Memor, KVB, TBL1, TBL1+, TBL2[2]
Performance figures
Maximum speed200 km/h (124 mph)
Power output25 kV AC, or 3 kV continuous 5 MW (6,700 hp)[2]
peak 6 MW (8,000 hp) for 20min.[2]
1.5 kV 2.4 MW (3,200 hp) [2]/2.5 MW (3,400 hp)[3]/3.5 MW (4,700 hp)[4]
Tractive effort300 kN (67,000 lbf) @0 km/h (0 mph)[2]
250 kN (56,000 lbf) @ 72 km/h (45 mph)[2]
Brakeforce150 kN (34,000 lbf) max[3]
regenerative braking power 2.4 MW (3,200 hp) under 3 kV, 5 MW (6,700 hp) under 25 kV AC and 3 kV DC.[2] rheostatic braking power 2.6 MW (3,500 hp) under 3 kV or 1.5 kV DC.[2]
Career
OperatorsSNCB/NMBS
ClassHLE 18 & 19[2][5]
Number in class120[6]
Numbers1801-1896, 1901-1924 [6]
Delivered2009-2012
Technical information :[3][4] except where noted

The locomotives were supplied for use by SNCB/NMBS (Belgian national railways) on passenger services.

96 of the class form the HLE 18 class, 24 units fitted with an automatic central coupler form the SNCB HLE 19 class.[5]

History

An order for 60 units, value €211 million, was placed in December 2006 for delivery between January 2009 and June 2010.[7][8][9] In December 2008, an option to order 60 more locomotives was exercised for an amount of € 222M, for delivery between June 2010 and April 2012.[10]

The locomotives were ordered to replace Belgian Railways Class 13, Class 21 and Class 27 locomotives on passenger intercity services.[11] The Class 13 were mostly displaced on freight trains while the Class 21 and 27 took over slower passenger trains; this allowed the withdrawal of outdated Belgian Railways Class 23 and 26 locomotives as well as the younger but troublesome class 20. While belonging to the EuroSprinter family of locomotives, the Class 18 units use a new exterior cab design (similar to the CP Class 4700 ordered by Comboios de Portugal around the same time), that would later be used on the later Vectron locomotives and the upcoming ÖBB Nightjet Siemens Viaggio Comfort Next Level rakes.[12]

Locomotive number 1860 was officially presented at InnoTrans in 2008.[3] The first unit, number 1801 was transferred to the Velim railway test circuit for testing in December 2008.[13]

On March 3, 2009, the first unit (roadnumber 1802) was officially delivered to SNCB/NMBS for test and homologation purpose.[14] Homologation issues delayed commercial introduction (originally planned for the summer schedule - May 2011),[15] as a result Siemens was obliged to pay the maximum amount of penalties (€21.12 million).[16]

In July 2011 the first revenue earning Intercity services ran, under temporary approval.[5] The type received homologation certification for use in Belgium in late 2011.[17]

References
  1. SNCB HLE 18-19 www.railcolor.net, "order details"
  2. Locomotieven type 18 goed onthaald, SNCB (2011), Type 18-19: technische fiche
  3. "SNCB dual-system loco to be unveiled". Railway Gazette. 23 September 2008.
  4. Locomotives - Reference List (PDF), Siemens, Three-System Universal Locomotive HLE 18, p.6
  5. SNBC HLE 18-19 (www.railcolor.net), milesstones
  6. SNCB HLE 18-19 www.railcolor.net, "fleet list"
  7. "La SNCB commande 60 locomotives électriques chez Siemens" (in French). SNCB Presse. 16 January 2007. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
  8. "Belgian National Railway Company places €211M order with Siemens for 60 locomotives". Siemens Transportation Systems. 18 January 2007.
  9. "SNCB orders 60 locomotives with Siemens". Infrasite News. 18 January 2007. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
  10. "NMBS koopt nieuwe treinen en locomotieven" (in Dutch). De Standaard. 5 December 2008.
  11. SNBC HLE 18-19 (www.railcolor.net), purpose
  12. Clinnick, Richard (10 August 2021). "ÖBB orders 20 additional Nightjets". International Rail Journal.
  13. ""Taurus" pro belgické dráhy bude testován ve Velimi" (in Czech). ŽelPage. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  14. "Nieuwe locomotieven NMBS klaar voor testfase" (in Dutch). De Morgen. 4 March 2009.
  15. "45 nouvelles locomotives de la SNCB inutilisables" (in French). La Dernière Heure. 12 March 2010.
  16. Amende salée pour Siemens (in French), La Libre, 2 April 2011
  17. "Locomotives passed homologation", www.europeanrailwayreview.com, 7 November 2011

Sources
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