SNCB Class 18 (Siemens)

HLE 18, HLE 19

300px 1857 at Brugge-Sint-Pieters railway station.

Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Siemens Model EuroSprinter ES60U3 Build date first 60 : 2008-2010 second 60 : 2010-2011

Specifications UIC class Bo'Bo' Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Wheel diameter 1,250 mm (49 in) Length 19,580 mm (64 ft 3 in) Loco weight 88 t Electric system(s) 3,000 V DC 1,500 V DC 25 kV 50 Hz AC Current collection 2 Pantographs (3 kV or 25 kV 50 Hz) Loco brake disc brakes, rheostatic/regenerative electrical braking Train brakes pneumatic Safety systems ETCS 1 and 2, Memor, KVB, TBL1, TBL1+, TBL2

Performance figures Maximum speed 200 km/h (120 mph) Power output 25kV AC, or 3kV continuous 5 MW peak 6MW for 20min. 1.5kV 2.4/2.5/3MW Tractive effort 300 kN @ 0 km/h 250 kN @ 72 km/h Loco brakeforce 150 kN max regenerative braking power 2.4 MW under 3 kV, 5MW under 25kV AC and 3kV DC. rheostatic braking power 2.6MW under 3kV or 1.5kV DC.

Career Operators SNCB/NMBS Class HLE 18 & 19 Number in class 120 Numbers 1801-1896, 1901-1924 Delivered 2009-2012

Technical information : except where noted

For the original Class 18 built in 1973/4 by Alsthom see SNCB Class 18 (Alsthom)

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.

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.

History

An order for 60 units, value €211 million, was placed in December 2006 for delivery between January 2009 and June 2010. 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.

The locomotives were ordered to replace SNCB Class 13 and Class 27 locomotives on passenger intercity services.

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

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

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