Rail operator HSL Belgium has acquired its first hybrid diesel-electric locomotive for freight transport. It is not only the first such locomotive for the company, but also for all of Belgium.
The hybrid locomotive in question is Vossloh’s SmartHybrid DE18 model, used for shunting and mainline operations. It offers an 80% emission reduction compared to regular diesel locomotives, HSL Belgium says. The operator is leasing the locomotive from Nexrail Lease. “This is an important tipping point in the industry and could be an impulse for the transition to a fossil-free rail market”, says HSL Belgium.
The rail operator wants to expand its fleet of electric vehicles in the future. That includes a second hybrid locomotive later in 2025. Earlier in the year, the operator got its first fully electric Vectron locomotive from Siemens Mobility.
In 2022, the SmartHybrid DE18 locomotive performed a test run in the Belgian Ardennes:
HSL Belgium
HSL Belgium is a rail freight operator based in Eupen and Antwerp. It is active across much of Europe, connecting Belgian ports with routes spanning from Germany to Ukraine. It transports a wide variety of freight, such as grain, containers, trailers, motor vehicles, chemicals, and hazardous goods. The company is part of the TX Logistik & Mercitalia Rail Group.