DSB Class ME
| Company type | Diesel-electric locomotive class |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transportation |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Henschel & Son |
| Defunct | 2021 (final unit retired) |
| Headquarters | Denmark |
Area served | Denmark, Poland (some units operated by SKPL Cargo) |
| Products | Diesel-electric locomotives |
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The DSB Class ME locomotives constitute a fleet of diesel-electric locomotives introduced in 1981. Constructed by Henschel & Son, a total of 37 units were built for DSB. These locomotives were among the pioneers in serial production featuring Variable-frequency drive technology with AC traction motors. By 2017, 33 units remained operational.[1] The final unit was retired in December 2021.
History
Designed in the early 1980s, these locomotives were intended to manage heavier regional train services across Sjælland, Denmark.
The inaugural locomotive, numbered 1501, was delivered in 1981 after significant delays.Template:Fix/category[citation needed] By 1983, DSB had received a total of 30 units.[2] Despite encountering substantial technical difficulties,Template:SpecifyTemplate:Example needed DSB successfully addressed these issues,Template:SpecifyTemplate:Example needed allowing for an additional seven locomotives to be delivered by 1985.[2]
As of the year 2017, out of the original production, three units had been dismantled and one preserved at the Danish Railway Museum, while the remaining thirty-three were still active.[1] The ME class was projected to be phased out in favor of IC3 multiple units once the IC4 train sets became available for Intercity routes. However, due to persistent reliability issues and instability with the IC4 trains, they have not replaced the IC3 units as planned.[3] Consequently, DSB commissioned an order for twenty-six new electric locomotives to succeed the ME class by the year 2020.[4] Initially, these locomotives sported DSB's traditional black and red color scheme but were repainted entirely dark blue with red accents along their sides in 2006. Starting from October 2016, DSB began applying a red livery to align with their updated corporate branding.[1]
The exhaust outlet is positioned beneath the air intake on the Bombardier Double-deck Coaches utilized in regional services. Investigations revealed elevated levels of diesel particulate matter within these coaches' air supply—a carcinogenic hazard. In response, DSB upgraded air filtration systems in 2013, achieving a reduction of approximately forty percent in particulate matter exposure. Nevertheless, concentrations remained high enough to pose cancer risks to train personnel due to their prolonged exposure inside these coaches.[5]
The final unit was officially withdrawn from service on December 11, 2021. Four locomotives were subsequently sold to Nordic Re-Finance and reclassified as the TME class.[6]
Polish company SKPL Cargo operates six of these locomotives under the designation SU175.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 [1], DSB Litra ME
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ End of a Danish Diesel Era Locomotives International issue 134 December 2021 pages 44/45
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External links
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