SNCF Class BB 27300
| Company type | Electric locomotive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Electric locomotives |
The SNCF Class BB 27300 consists of 67 electric locomotives manufactured by Alstom under the Prima series, with deliveries commencing in 2006. These units operate within the Transilien network, servicing passenger lines in the Île-de-France area, mainly departing from Paris Montparnasse and Paris Saint-Lazare stations. Sporting the blue and white colors of Transilien, the BB 27300 models function as passenger equivalents to the freight-exclusive SNCF Class BB 27000. They are engineered for push-pull service alongside modernized double-decker VB2N coaches.
Technical information
Each locomotive produces a power output of , incorporating the KVBP safety system, which is based on the contrôle de vitesse par balises technology. They are equipped with a pair of pantographs to enable operation under both 1500 V DC and 25 kV AC overhead electrification.
History
In 2006, the BB 27300 series obtained certification to run on France’s national railway network from the Établissement public de sécurité ferroviaire.
Orders
The first procurement involved 60 locomotives ordered in 2004, with initial testing of two units carried out in 2005 and deliveries extending through 2008. Additional smaller acquisitions added five and two locomotives respectively. These units are numbered from 27301 to 27367, where those bearing an '8' prefix denote assignment to SNCF's Île-de-France sector.
Usage
Since entering service in 2006, these locomotives have been deployed on suburban lines from Paris Montparnasse towards Dreux, Mantes-la-Jolie, and Rambouillet, replacing older BB 8500 and BB 25500 classes. Moreover, 42 locomotives operate from Paris Saint-Lazare on routes serving Poissy, Mantes-la-Jolie, Pontoise, Gisors, and Ermont Eaubonne, supplanting BB 8500 and BB 17000 models.
Future
The current use of BB 27300 locomotives for suburban passenger duties is temporary; after 2015, they are anticipated to be succeeded by new Electric Multiple Units. Following this transition, these locomotives are expected to be reassigned to SNCF Fret for freight tasks alongside their counterparts in the BB 27000 series.