Siemens introduced Vectron X
posted on 10th Jun 2026 17:00
On 10 June 2026, Siemens Mobility introduced the new Vectron X at the München-Allach plant. The Vectron X is a further improvement of a proven locomotive with extensive digitalisation, taking advantage of app-based functionalities. The event for the media and customers took place in the newly opened Rail Service Centre in Allach.
The Vectron X is not a new type; it is an improvement to the Vectron platform, which has proven itself in daily operation with nearly 3,000 units sold. All Vectron variations produced from June 2026 onwards will offer Vectron X functionalities. Furthermore, it is possible to upgrade all Vectrons produced to date. The upgrade requires only minor changes to the locomotive and should take about two days. The manufacturer has stated that the upgrade is not expensive.
The most visible change is the new Smart Screen located on the left side of the driver’s console in the driver's cabs. The Vectron X offers new app-based functionalities and open APIs for third-party app providers. This enables the locomotive to evolve continuously in line with future customer requirements and be adapted flexibly to different operational needs. Operators will be able to run data-driven applications and targeted maintenance to help optimise operating costs and improve the efficiency of each vehicle.
With its open, software-based architecture, the Vectron X forms part of the Siemens Xcelerator, the manufacturer's open digital business platform. It seamlessly connects rolling stock, operations, services and infrastructure, enabling the integration of partner solutions via standardised interfaces. In other words, operators can develop and use their own applications on the locomotive.
The central 11.6-inch Smart Screen resembles a smartphone home screen and brings information directly to the driver’s console. This information ranges from operational data and route information to third-party applications, which are available via an App Store. It runs on the Android operating system. Additionally, selected customer- and operator-specific applications that drivers currently use on smartphones or tablets for mission planning, operational coordination or customer-specific information can be displayed directly on the Smart Screen or on the mirrors of those devices via TrainPlay, bringing them to the fixed screen in the driver’s cab.
The functionalities offered for are for example:
- Remote control functionality - enabling the locomotive to be started remotely from a smartphone or tablet, thereby saving the driver's preparation time and increasing operational flexibility. This functionality not only initiates locomotive start, but also transfers error messages if they occur. The remote activation function is limited by the locomotive battery capacity, which is roughly 24 hours.
- Near real-time connectivity and predictive maintenance: A key feature of Vectron X is its comprehensive connectivity. The locomotive can securely connect to digital systems and transmit operational data in near real-time. This enables the early detection of irregularities, targeted maintenance measures and a significant reduction in unplanned failures. This helps stabilise operations and improve availability further. Advanced diagnostics, analytics and condition monitoring functions also provide greater transparency regarding the locomotive’s condition. Operators has better overview and control over the technical health of individual systems. Maintenance can shift from reactive to proactive, substantially increasing vehicle availability.
- Functions to manage energy savings, which can compute train data and combine it with network information about train positions. For example, DB InfraGO shows the driver not only the trains in front of the train, but also those behind. The driver can also bring pictures from all locomotive cameras to the Smart Screen and so on.
New Rail Service Centre: Expanding European service network
Alongside the launch of the Vectron X, Siemens Mobility has opened a newly modernised Rail Service Centre in München-Allach. The new facility will triple the site's capacity from around 25 to up to 80 overhauls and accident repairs per year. As one of the largest industrial employers in the region, Siemens Mobility has invested around 250 million EUR in expanding the Allach site, where it employs around 2,500 people.
Customers will benefit from significantly shorter turnaround times and high locomotive availability. Solutions such as Railigent X enable condition-based maintenance before a vehicle reaches the workshop, allowing anomalies to be detected earlier, spare parts to be scheduled faster, and repairs to be prepared more precisely. These solutions are complemented by digitalised workshop processes that integrate paperless workflows, digital documentation and optimised parts logistics.
The workshop can provide both inspections (in three halls) and accident repairs (in two halls alongside inspections), as well as a separate hall for bogie overhauls and wheelset maintenance. The average period needed to finish an inspection, including bogies and wheelsets, is 10 days.
