Electric locomotive Re 465

The Re 465 has been optimised for the transport activities of BLS AG to meet the particularly high demands on winding and steep routes with limited wheelset loads. It comes from the ‘Lokomotive 2000’ type family from ABB and SLM, which also includes the Re 460 from SBB, the Sm2 from VR and the El18 from Vy, also known as Vygruppen AS (Norges Statsbaner). 

The Re 465 is a four-axle locomotive with a peak power of 7,000 kW, a continuous power of 6,400 kW and a tractive force of 320 kN in the range from 0 to 79 km/h. The maximum permissible speed is 160 km/h. The use of push–pull rods results in a more uniform distribution of the forces from the wheelsets of a bogie on the rail, even in situations with high tractive forces. A traction converter with single-wheelset control can control each wheelset separately according to wheel diameter and sliding or slipping occurrences. This makes it possible for there to be greater differences in wheel diameters than in vehicles with bogie control or bogie group drives.

Through a steering kinematic system, the wheelsets of the respective bogie are coupled in their movement relative to the bogie frame via coupling shafts when cornering, which results in the wheelsets ‘hugging’ the respective curve and improving the tractive force on curved tracks.

The drives, each consisting of a motor and gearbox rigidly bolted together, are each connected to the bogie headstock and bogie centre beam via vertically running stabilizer bars, in the direction of travel via a longitudinal link to the bogie headstock, but transversely to the direction of travel via transverse links to the locomotive body. This allows the drive to move transversely relative to the bogie frame. Torques are transmitted to the wheelsets by means of hollow cardan shafts. Asynchronous traction motors with a maximum line-to-line terminal voltage of 2,180 V and a maximum frequency of 213 Hz are used.

With a low tractive force requirement, the Re 465 is able to use a bogie for the drive and to keep one ready for operation when the intermediate circuit is charged. This leads to relevant energy savings.

On gradients of 2.7%, the Re 465 locomotives can start with trains weighing up to 650 t and accelerate to 100 km/h.

With the secondary suspension connected at a height of 1,950 mm above the top edge of the rail, the rolling tendency of the locomotive is minimised.

The Re 465 is equipped with the multiple unit controls frequency shift keying, Ethernet train backbone and ZMS. They are available via the 9-pin ep control line, the 42-pin connectors for multiple units with SBB locomotives and the 61-pin connectors for multiple units with BLS locomotives.

The Lokomotive 2000 is optimised for low noise. With strong ventilation, 74 dB(A) were measured at a distance of 7.5 m from the centre of the track. Air intake takes place in a protected roof area. 

One special feature of the brake is the permanent magnet track brake (PMB), in which a rod-shaped permanent magnet in a rotating pole housing is rotated by 90° to activate the brake. No current has to be used for electric magnets on the rail brake to maintain the braking force of the Mg brake.

For the supply of passenger trains, the Re 465 can feed a dual 1,000 V 16.7 Hz head-end power bus with up to 1,000 A. 

The control system is a MICAS S2 with fibre optic vehicle bus. 

Photo: BLS AG