Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK) is planning to lease a new batch of Siemens Vectron locomotives as part of its efforts to address the aging state of its fleet, as our Slovak partner media, Railpage.net, reports.
Currently, the company operates with 10 Siemens Mobility Vectrons, alongside locomotives that were largely manufactured in the last century, including modernized equivalents like the Class 361. Recent operational challenges, including the gradual phasing out of Class 240 and Class 350 locomotives, have highlighted the need for more modern units. At present, only ETCS-equipped Class 350 locomotives remain in service, with other models being gradually retired.
While ZSSK has added new Skoda Group Panter and Stadler KISS units to its rolling stock, the overall shortage of locomotives remains evident. To mitigate this, ZSSK has launched a public tender for the long-term lease of multi-system Siemens Vectrons. These locomotives will not only support domestic routes but will also be critical in maintaining the company’s position in international markets, particularly in the Czech Republic and Austria, where ETCS Level 2 will become mandatory from January 2025. At present, only the Class 361 and 383 (Vectron) locomotives meet these requirements.
The leasing option offers lower initial costs and faster availability, with the first locomotives expected in the first quarter of 2025. The lease agreement will also include full-service maintenance. The tender requires the first five locomotives to be delivered by December 2024, with subsequent deliveries in December 2025 and December 2026.
According to the tender documents, ZSSK is seeking Vectrons with a maximum speed of 200 km/h, equipped with ETCS Level 1 and Level 2 baseline 3, as well as other national signalling systems. Out of the 15 locomotives, 12 are to be A01 versions, compatible with Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Germany, and Poland—matching ZSSK’s current Vectron fleet. Two units are specified as A17 models, with additional compatibility for Slovenia and Croatia, and one unit is designated A35, adding Italian compatibility. It remains unclear how ZSSK plans to utilize these capabilities in Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy.
