AUSTRIA: The first of 30 Class 1293 Siemens Vectron locomotives ordered by Austrian Federal Railways was formally unveiled at Wien Praterstern station on March 5.

In January 2017 ÖBB awarded Siemens a framework contract to supply its Rail Cargo Group freight business with up to 100 AC locomotives, 50 AC locomotives with last mile diesel power modules and 50 multi-system locomotives.

The framework included a firm order worth around €120m for an initial tranche of 30 multi-system locomotives to be used by on cross-border services between Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The 6·4 MW 160 km/h locomotives are being supplied from the Siemens plant in München-Allach, and will be equipped with ETCS as well as national control systems.

Speaking at the launch, ÖBB Group CEO Andreas Matthä said the locomotives would support RCG’s international expansion.