On 26.11.2012, locomotive 923 008 got the name Schäflisberg. It was presented and handed over to SBB Cargo in St. Margrethen. SBB Cargo Eem 923

923 003 and 004 also have been seen with names already: "Stählibuck" and "Roggen" - HJK SBB Cargo Eem 923

Railcolor: When looking at the newest pics, the livery on the side with no balcony seems to have changed. A red and blue striping has been added. SBB Cargo Eem 923

“It is the most modern and innovative shunting locomotive currently on the market,” explains Hartmut Dietrich, General Manager Stadler Winterthur AG, at today’s presentation of the first vehicle. According to Dietrich, the newly developed shunting locomotive represents a milestone in the company’s manufacturing history. It is based on type Ee 922, which SBB’s Passenger Division is currently using successfully for shunting operations. Although similar in appearance, internally the new hybrid locomotive differs from its purely electrically driven predecessor. “Alongside a doubly powerful electric drive, the Eem krupp_2884_02 also has a supplementary diesel auxiliary drive to serve sidings without a contact line – which significantly increases efficiency,” illustrates Alberto Cortesi, Head of Engineering at Stadler Winterthur.

The hybrid drive is ideal for SBB Cargo’s purposes. Since the Eem 923 is suitable for both line operation and shunting, SBB Cargo gains palpable flexibility in its production. “With a maximum speed of 100 km/h, the new locomotive will make it significantly easier to use free routes on the heavily loaded Swiss rail network,” explains Michel Henzi, General Project Manager at SBB Cargo. Furthermore, SBB Cargo is expecting significantly higher availability of the vehicles, combined with lower operating and maintenance costs. “Once all 30 of the locomotives ordered are in operation from 2013, the operating costs will drop significantly, just through operation using mainly electrical energy. In addition, CO2 emissions will be reduced by more than 4,000 tonnes per year,” says Henzi.

For Jürgen Mues, Head of Asset Management and Member of the Management Board at SBB Cargo, the hybrid locomotive is just as much an efficient as an innovative solution, “With this vehicle, we consciously decided on a particularly environmentally-friendly shunting locomotive which is also highly energy-efficient.” Mues also sees the vehicle as a clear commitment by SBB Cargo to wagonload freight in Switzerland.

As a pioneer in European rail freight, in future SBB Cargo is committing to shunting locomotives with a hybrid drive. In July 2010, SBB Cargo ordered 30 new, dual-axis vehicles of type Eem 923 from Stadler Winterthur AG for CHF 88 million. The advanced, high-performance shunting locomotives will be delivered in 2012 and 2013 and will operate in light-to-medium shunting and line service. They will replace the existing shunting locomotives of type Bm 4/4 and various triple-axis locomotives and traction engines which are no longer able to serve modern requirements. Both the maintenance of these shunting vehicles and their age-related increasing susceptibility to faults have resulted in spiralling costs. Thanks to the new purchase, SBB Cargo is able to reduce variety in the shunting and delivery service fleet, enabling more efficient operation and maintenance of the entire vehicle fleet. The Eem 923 fits perfectly into the fleet: between the locomotive type Am 843 (a diesel locomotive with particulate filter) for heavy shunting service, and the modernized locomotive Tm 232 (also with particulate filter) for light shunting service. - press statement Stadler Rail SBB Cargo Eem 923