DB's Class 249 will start regular operation

On 15 March 2024, at marshalling yard in Halle (Saale) a new generation of locomotives has been unveiled that will make DB Cargo's fleet more efficient and powerful in the future: the Vectron Dual Mode light. Although the Class 249 DB was presented to the public for the first time already at InnoTrans 2022, this time it was a moment associated with the upcoming start of operations.

The Class 249 Vectron DM light has been specially optimized for DB Cargo's operational requirements. Compared to a conventional Clas 248 Vectron DM, it is several tons lighter for even more efficient operations and provides access to branch lines and sidings with lower load capacities. This benefits single wagon loads, which will become faster and more efficient as the time to change locomotives will be significantly reduced. In addition, the new generation of locomotives is pre-equipped for digital train operations in the future.  

Sigrid Nikutta, Member of the Board of Management for Freight Transport at DB and Chairwoman of the Board of Management of DB Cargo: "This new generation of locomotives is important for DB Cargo. Many customers will benefit from this and - important for all of us - the environment is the big winner. If we operate this locomotive with green electricity and HVO diesel from cooking oils, we offer our customers an almost CO2-free supply chain from start to finish – without intermediate stops. All in all, the new generation of locomotives will make rail freight transport more efficient in the long term."

DB has ordered 150 locomotives from Siemens Mobility in an initial order: 146 for DB Cargo and 4 for DB Bahnbau (and one more for DB Regio). With the use of the new dual-power locomotives, DB Cargo will save around 12 million liters of fuel and 25,000 tons of CO2 per year. The first locomotives will be used around Europe's most modern marshalling yard in Halle (Saale) in Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony.