Paribus and Siemens Mobility sign agreement for 25 Smartron locomotives

Siemens Mobility and Paribus Holding GmbH & Co. KG, a Hamburg-based investment and asset management firm for rail rolling stock and real estate, have signed a framework agreement for the delivery of 25 Smartron locomotives.

The deal was arranged and structured by Paribus for Paris-based RIVE Private Investment. The asset management of the locomotives will be handled by northrail GmbH, the rail asset management subsidiary of Paribus.

Four locomotives, valued at €2.5 million each, have already been ordered. Three of these will be leased by northrail GmbH to TX Logistik AG. Siemens Mobility will be responsible for the maintenance of the locomotives for eight years.

“Our new Smartron offers our customers a powerful and reliable locomotive delivered in a fixed standard design that simplifies the purchasing process. As a preconfigured locomotive, the Smartron enables our customers to operate cost-effectively with a high degree of availability,” said Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Siemens Mobility.

The Smartron is based on proven components of the Vectron, a locomotive that has already demonstrated its reliability in over 180 million kilometres covered by more than 600 delivered units. The Smartron is designed for 15kV AC voltage systems and is equipped with the PZB/LZB train control system.

“With the addition of the Siemens Mobility’s Smartron locomotives to the northrail fleet, we are taking another big step towards an intelligent and resource-saving locomotive fleet,” said Dr. Volker Simmering, CEO of Paribus Holding GmbH & Co. KG and Managing Partner of northrail GmbH. “We’re especially pleased that TX Logistik has decided to become the first lessee of this reliable locomotive based on proven technology.”