Railway Technology Siemens Presents the Vectron X As the Digital Evolution of the Vectron Family

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Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, describes the evolution of the proven Vectron locomotive platform—which is in use throughout Europe—into the digitized and connected Vectron X as a “smartphone with 9,000 hp.” An app store will also be on board in the future.

First introduced in 2010 and put into service in 2012, Siemens Mobility’s Vectron locomotive platform has become a bestseller over the years. There are now more than 80 variants in operation across 20 countries. To date, Siemens has sold a total of nearly 3,000 locomotives of this type for rail freight and passenger transport. Every day, the locomotives already in service collectively cover two million kilometers. On June 10, 2026, the manufacturer unveiled the digital evolution of the product family—which Siemens calls the “Vectron X”—at its newly expanded Rail Service Center in Munich-Allach. However, the Vectron X is not a new development; rather, it is a transformation of the existing family into an open, software-based, digital, and connected locomotive platform. In the future, the locomotive will no longer be just a vehicle, but a digital workplace, a data hub, and part of an end-to-end ecosystem.

To achieve this, the Vectron X combines proven technologies with digital, app-based features and open interfaces for third-party partners, linking the vehicle, operations, service, and infrastructure. Thanks to its modular and software-based architecture, the Vectron X is part of the Siemens “Xcelerator” ecosystem, which was announced in 2022 at InnoTrans in Berlin. This allows the Vectron X to evolve alongside future customer requirements and be flexibly adapted.

Connectivity creates an enormous database; according to Elmar Zeiler, CEO of Customer Services at Siemens Mobility, each vehicle generates one billion data points per year. As Michael Peter also noted during the presentation: “We no longer have individual locomotives. Our locomotives are maintained throughout their entire lifecycle, and 3,000 locomotives learn from one another within a large ecosystem, which benefits every single locomotive and every single customer.” Starting in June 2026, all orders will be delivered as Vectron X models, regardless of when they were placed.

The Smart Screen is the Heart of the System

At the heart of the digital operating concept is the centrally located 11.6-inch smart screen, which complements the familiar Vectron driver’s console and consolidates key applications and information. This ranges from operational data and route information to third-party applications available in an app store. The “TrainPlay” app is a core feature of this digital ecosystem: This CarPlay-like solution allows train operators to mirror certain customer- and operator-specific applications—which they currently often use on smartphones or tablets—onto the touchscreen-enabled Smart Screen. Communication is bidirectional; drivers can also control the apps running on their mobile devices—for example, for scheduling, operational coordination, or retrieving information. With this, Siemens Mobility is launching the first CarPlay-like solution for locomotives.

Currently, six different software packages are available, all of which are installed from the start. One of these is the “Vectron Eco Cruise” package for energy efficiency, which helps train operators drive as energy-efficiently as possible. This system relies on the network operator’s schedules and infrastructure data—in Germany, that’s InfraGo—and, according to Siemens, is expected to result in energy savings of approximately 10 percent. In Germany, there is a similar system from Knorr-Bremse that analyzes the timetable data and, for example, switches to coasting mode in the event of early arrivals.

Remote Upgrades

Another package boosts vehicle productivity: This application, called “Remote Start,” allows a locomotive to be prepared for service remotely, which speeds up operational readiness and increases flexibility. Under normal circumstances, this saves employees 7 to 12 minutes; in winter, the time savings can be as high as 30 minutes. In addition, the app displays vehicle condition, status information, and consumables, and enables the locomotive engineer to quickly locate “his” locomotive: its parking location is marked on a map.

The “Live Traffic App” allows train operators to view the distance to trains ahead and behind and to adjust their driving accordingly. The other packages cover data processing, condition monitoring, and maintenance coordination.

Near-Real-Time Connectivity

Thanks to end-to-end connectivity—a central feature of Vectron X—the locomotive can transmit its operational data in near real time and securely connect to digital systems. This lays the foundation for early detection of anomalies, enabling more targeted maintenance measures and significantly reducing unplanned outages. This, in turn, stabilizes operations and improves availability.

Operators can thus better assess the condition of individual systems thanks to the expanded diagnostic, analytical, and condition-monitoring functions, a process further facilitated by a standardized data format and the ability to perform rule-based queries. As a result, maintenance is becoming increasingly proactive rather than reactive, which sustainably increases vehicle availability. Train operators can also view error messages and find out about corrective actions. If necessary, the responsible service representative can immediately create a work order for the repair shop. Behind these systems is the Siemens Mobility solution “Railigent X,” an IoT suite for service and applications, to which, according to Elmar Zeiler, AI-supported lifecycle management is expected to be added in the future.

The security architecture is crucial. TrainPlay and all App Store applications monitor the traction and braking systems but do not actively intervene. Siemens Mobility assures that all applications run only under strict authorization and are secured through encryption, software processes, and configuration management.

The Rail Service Center is Fully Digitized

Along with the Vectron X, Siemens Mobility unveiled its expanded Rail Service Center (RSC) at its historic plant in Munich-Allach, where locomotives have been manufactured for over 100 years. Following the renovation and new construction, Siemens is now able to perform 80 overhauls and accident repairs per year—up from 25—and reduce the duration of major inspections to two weeks. To this end, four new workshop tracks were built, and bogie and wheel set refurbishment operations were each housed in their own separate halls.

A key feature of the expanded RSC is its fully digital workshop processes. Workflows and documentation are paperless, and employees receive their work instructions on their handheld devices. Spare parts logistics rely on Siemens’ “MoBase” system, and thanks to the connectivity of the Vectron X, technicians know the locomotive’s condition even before it arrives, allowing them to order the necessary spare parts in advance.

In total, the company has invested more than $30 million in the renovation and partial reconstruction of the RSC and plans to employ approximately 80 people there by 2030. In total, Siemens has invested $300 million in the expansion of its Allach site in recent years and employs around 2,500 people there in development, manufacturing, and administration. Since 2025, Allach has also been home to the headquarters of Siemens Mobility. (se)

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