SNCF Class BB 75000

The SNCF BB 75000 (also known as the SNCF BB 475000[3]) are 4 axle, Bo′Bo′, diesel electric locomotives ordered in 2000 by SNCF for freight operations to renew its aging fleet.[lower-roman 1]

BB 75000
BB 75077 infra, BB 75462 Fret, BB 75015 OSR, BB 75022 ETF, BB 75031 AKIEM at Longueau depot.
Type and origin
Power typediesel
DesignerAlstom / Siemens[1]
BuilderAlstom in Belfort
Serial numberSNCF BB 475000
Build date2006 -
Total produced400 (further 100 optional)
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICBo′Bo′
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), clearance UIC 505-1[1]
Length20.280 m (66.54 ft)[1]
Loco weight84 tonnes (83 long tons; 93 short tons) (empty)[2]
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverMTU
Engine type1 V16 Diesel
TransmissionElectric
Safety systemsKVB, RPS, DAAT, GSMR radio[1]
PZB (Germany)[1]
Performance figures
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)[2]
Power output2,000 kW (2,700 hp) (engine)[2]
1,600 kW (2,100 hp) (at rail)[1]
Tractive effort(starting) 250 kN (56,000 lbf)[2] / 300 kN (67,000 lbf)[1]
223 kN (50,000 lbf) @ 25 km/h (16 mph)[1]
Career
OperatorsSNCF
Locale75000 series: France
75100 series: Germany[1]

The locomotives are also classified as Prima DE30BAC[4]

They are similar in appearance to the SNCF Class BB 27000, but are in fact the result of a collaboration between Alstom and Siemens. The internal electrical components are similar to those found in the Siemens EuroRunner made for ÖBB; the Rh 2016, and the bodyshell, bogies and other equipment being of the Prima type made by Alstom.

The initial order was for 400 machines to be delivered from 2007 onwards with an option for a further 100 additional machines. The order is valued at 1 billion euros.[5]

Development

Background

The order for the BB 75000 resulted from a long and arduous project of renewal of diesel freight locomotives, which began in 2000, and spans a period of seven years from the announcement of the tender to the delivery of the new BB 75000s.

SNCF had a requirement for new diesel locomotives for two reasons:

  • The current diesel fleet is very old[lower-roman 2] and expensive in terms of operation and maintenance.
  • The changes in European pollution and emission regulations as well as noise regulations make it necessary for the organisation to renew its fleet.

Tenders

The first document released by SNCF relating to this order was published in November 2000. It refers to delivery of 124 diesel powered freight locomotives and invites manufacturers to submit tenders. With a delivery date between 2003 and 2006 it set out a requirement for two types of locomotives:

  • 55 Single cab locomotives with an average power of 1200 to 1800 kW (with performances comparable to those of BB 66000 and BB 67000) suitable for medium distance routes.
  • 69 High-power devices with two cabs for long-distance trains. These locomotives would be expected to replace CC 72000 and would need between 2250 and 3200 kW of power.

However the project did not receive sufficient funding for the cost of the expensive high powered Co'Co' locomotives that would fulfil the second role and as a result the project was cancelled.

A few months after the cancellation of the first tender, a second was launched. It is based on the idea of a single multipurpose engine of medium power (1800 kW) similar to designs already available. These units would be used in multiple when necessary to provide a lower cost alternative to the expense of designing a high powered 6 axle from scratch. New tenders were to be delivered by November 2001 and technical meetings with potential manufacturers held during the spring of 2002.

In November 2002, Alstom and Siemens formed a winning consortium (with Alstom taking the lead role) and the project was finalized with SNCF in 2003. The contract was signed on 27 February 2004, and was substantially different from the original specifications published in 2000— not 124 but 400 new machines (all of medium power), which will reduce the average age of the locomotive freight fleet to 15 – 20 years.

The design used already proven components; traction components similar to those in the Siemens built OBB Rh 2016 and the structural design from the Alstom Prima 427000 series of locomotives.[2]

The purchase contract was signed on 25 March 2004 inside the Station of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, in the presence of the Presidents of the SNCF, Alstom, and Siemens for the purchase of 400 locomotives with a possible further 100.

For the occasion, BB 437,002 was disguised to resemble an as yet unbuilt BB 475,001.

Testing and approval

The first locomotives came off the assembly line at Alstom in Belfort in spring 2006. The BB 75001 and 75002 were sent to Test- and Validationcenter Wegberg-Wildenrath in Germany in March 2006 for testing by the manufacturer until May 2007. They then returned to Belfort in early June for a final tests before being delivered to the railway in September or October 2007.

BB 75003 and 75004 carried out tests on the national network in June 2006 for the BB 75003. Torque and mechanical tests in took place in Vitry-sur-Seine, then journeying to the French Riviera in July 2006 to test dynamic behavior, noise and vibration.

In late October 2006 the exact configurations for the main build of locomotives was issued.

BB 75004 went to Châlons-en-Champagne for tests on the brakes, and haulage tests, before travelling to Nevers for tests on the brakes. The process concluded on 21 November 2006 with BB 75006 undertaking shunting tests at Plouaret. In February 2007 the order allowing entry into commercial operation was given by the Établissement public de sécurité ferroviaire (EPSF) and issued to Fret SNCF on the 27th of March.

Service

Following the test and approval process the production of the locomotives could begin; by the end of June 2007 thirty locomotives had been built.

All new BB 75000 are received at the Gare de Longueau on the TER Picardie line in Amiens - where they will help replace the SNCF Class BB 67400 working between northern France and Belgium; from there they will be divided between two depots:

They are primarily used on journeys of less than 400 km with train weight up to 1800 tonnes, above this mass multiple traction is employed.

Their first placements are in the north of France plus the Île-de-France from June 11 (Massy, Le Bourget, Vaires-sur-Marne and Troyes). Workings in the East and South-East of France will be served by the later production models, while the West will be supported by the new type of BB 60000 and the BB 69000 (which are remotorised BB 66000s).

On 28 March 2007, the first commercial multiple working took place consisting of BB 75009 and 75006.

Conclusion

The introduction of this new locomotive should mean the elimination of BB 67300, CC 72000, and through multiple unit workings of non-updated BB 66000.

It is not impossible that a variant be built or modified for passenger traffic (like the BB 27300 Transilien, derived from the SNCF Class BB 27000) because they have the necessary equipment[lower-roman 4]

Updates

European standards will become increasingly demanding in terms of the requirements for particulate emissions and also the amount of CO2 emitted. These new guidelines will be implemented in two stages, taking place in January 2009 and in January 2012.

To comply with the first set of standards (January 2009) all new locomotives of this type will be built with a new diesel engine: the MTU 4000 R43. As well as engine modifications, the locomotive's exhaust will be changed (many locomotive manufacturers are implementing new exhaust systems to reduce emitted particulates). This will change the external appearance of these locomotives. All new locomotives built thus will be numbered from 200 onwards, i.e., BB 475200 and upwards in number.

Versions
Versions of the BB 75000
N° Description
75001 à 75099 Machines with engine MTU 16V 4000 R41
75100 Does not exist
75101 à 75133 Machines with engine MTU 16V 4000 R41 interoperable with the Germany and Benelux
75300 (75000 amended) Machines with engine MTU 16V 4000 R41 + intercom
75401 à 75568 Machines equipped with the MTU 4000 R 43 L 2400 kW engine
  • 75001 - 75006 Locomotives used for testing

See also

Notes
  1. The average age of its locomotive in 2000 was 31 years.
  2. In fact the last diesel locomotive delivered was a BB 67400 (No. 67632) in October 1975
  3. Those machines suitable for cross border are numbered from 100 onwards ie BB 475100 and upwards.
  4. SNCF wishes to continue its supply of military transport trains, which are frequently of the Mixed train type with passenger cars attached.

References
  1. "BB 75000 - PRIMA DE" (PDF). Akiem.
  2. "Freight Locomotive BB 475000" (PDF). Locomotives Reference List. Siemens Transportation. p. 33.
  3. "La locomotive FRET BB 75000 de la SNCF" (in French).
  4. Wijnakker, Simon. "BB 75000 series PRIMA DE30BAC". railcolor.net. Archived from the original on 2011-05-30.
  5. "La nouvelle locomotive diesel de frêt BB 475000", physicalsupplychains.com (in French), archived from the original on 17 November 2008

Bibliography
  • Caremantrant, Marc (July 2007). "Les BB 75000 en service". Rail Passion (in French). No. 117. Paris: La Vie du Rail. pp. 12–15.
  • Laval, Patrick (9 May 2007). "Les BB 75000 prennent la relève". La Vie du Rail (in French). No. 3102. Paris. pp. 14–17.
  • Stolz, Théo (October 2007). "Les BB 47500, version diesel "Prima" de Fret SNCF". Chemins de fer (in French). No. 506. Paris: AFAC. pp. 28–34. ISSN 1252-9907.
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