Belgian National Railways is to purchase a fleet of 80 two-car diesel multiple-units for its non-electrified secondary routes. SNCB’s Board of Directors decided on June 27 to award the contract to GEC Alsthom Transporte of Spain, following a Europe-wide bidding process which started in January 1996.
To be delivered in 1999-2002, the 49·6m long units are priced at BFr69m; each will seat 12 first class and 138 second class passengers. One powered bogie at the inner end of each car will be powered by an underfloor-mounted Cummins KTA19R4 engine, rated at 485 kW at 2100 rev/min, driving through a Voith T311r hydraulic transmission. Maximum speed will be 120 km/h and tare weight 75·8 tonnes.
Able to run in multiples of up to four, the units will operate seven routes: Antwerpen - Herentals - Neerpelt/Hasselt; Aalst - Burst; Gent - Eeklo;Gent - Oudenaarde - Ronse; Gent - Zottegem - Geraardsbergen; Charleroi - Mariembourg - Couvin; and Dinant - Bertrix - Libramont/Virton.
At the same time, SNCB ordered 90 B-B diesel-hydraulic locos from Siemens for BFr5·4bn to replace the bulk of its shunting fleet. Derived from Siemens’ standard G1200 type, the locos will be powered by an ABC D6DZC diesel engine of 1150 kW driving through a Voith L4r4zseU2A transmission; top speed will be 100 km/h. Around half of the order value will be spent in Belgium, including the assembly of some locos by Bombardier Eurorail in Brugge. The rest will be built at Kiel.
The SNCB Board has also shortlisted four firms to supply 340 double-deck coaches designated M6; final bids are due this autumn. The four are Bombardier Eurorail, Breda-Firema, GEC Alsthom and Siemens. o
