New Locomotive for Sustainable Rail Transport at Max Bögl
January 22, 2025
The Max Bögl Group has acquired a four-axle, diesel-electric DE 18 locomotive from the manufacturer Vossloh Rolling Stock. On January 13, the brand-new locomotive, shipped directly from the Kiel plant, arrived at the group’s main plant in Sengenthal, Upper Palatinate. With an output of 1,800 kW—equivalent to approximately 2,450 PS—it is currently the most powerful center-cab locomotive on the European market. At the same time, the DE 18 features an engine management system that ensures compliance with Stage V emission limits. The engines are designed for use with synthetic HVO fuel in accordance with EN 15940, a fuel that emits 90% less CO2.
For Max Bögl’s train operators, the acquisition of the new DE 18 locomotive makes logistics tasks significantly easier. Until now, the shunting tasks—which have become increasingly demanding over time—were handled using two older three-axle shunting locomotives. Now it is possible to easily shunt block trains weighing over 2,000 metric tons within the plant and transport them via the company’s own spur line from the Sengenthal plant to the Neumarkt train station.
The new locomotive will be able to demonstrate its capabilities right away. Until 2026, its primary task will be to shunt the segment trains for the Brenner Base Tunnel —typically a block train weighing just under 2,000 metric tons per day—at the plant and transporting them to Neumarkt, where they will be taken over by an electric locomotive for the onward journey to Steinach in Tyrol.
In addition to the daily tubbing trains, numerous sleeper trains also leave the plant throughout the year. Likewise, construction sites are regularly supplied with precast concrete elements via rail, e.g., for wind turbine towers, Car Parks, and industrial buildings. During peak periods, up to three loaded trains may leave the plant per day.
Since the new locomotive is certified for operation on the German rail network, it will take on an additional task alongside its heavy shunting duties on the plant’s own rail infrastructure: In the future, it will also be used to haul trains beyond the Neumarkt station into the greater Nuremberg area or on to Regensburg. The reason for this expanded operating radius is the limited track capacity at Neumarkt Station for incoming and outgoing freight traffic. The new DE 18 offers the necessary flexibility to reliably operate even more trains in the future and, if necessary, to respond to potential unplanned track occupancy in Neumarkt by third parties or to service disruptions.
Key technical features of the 17-meter-long locomotive include its weight of 90 metric tons and a top speed of 120 km/h. In addition to radio remote control, it is also equipped with an automatic shunting coupler.
The following individuals accepted delivery of the new shop locomotive (from left): Richard Honig, Head of Central Operations at Max Bögl Transport & Geräte / Stefan Bögl, CEO of the Max Bögl Group / Marco Christiansen, Vossloh Rolling Stock / Christoph Meier, Executive Assistant at the Max Bögl Group / Erhard Wolfrum, Head of Logistics at Max Bögl Transport & Equipment / Willibald Braun, Logistics/Engineering at Max Bögl Transport & Equipment.
Photo: Max Bögl Group / Florian Paul