The German Federal Railway Authority (EBA) has granted Voith unrestricted series approval for the Gravita 15L BB. The first 12 locomotives are in service all over Germany.

Voith has proven in recent weeks that the wheelset shaft of the Gravita 15L BB will not overheat. With this positive result the company has delivered the required further technical evidence, and the German Federal Railway Authority (EBA) has lifted the previous restriction, which used to amount to 70,000 km.

Apart from DB German Railways, Gravita 15L BB locomotives with an engine output of 1,800 kW are also operated by Hohenzollerische Landesbahn (HzL) in shunting and distribution service. Here, the Gravita is used for the transport of oil shale trains running from the Holcim cement works in Dotternhausen, Germany, to Switzerland. This service requires maximum tractive efforts. At DB Schenker Rail the locomotives are already used all over Germany in mainline service. They replace locomotives, partly in double traction, for heavy raw material transports with large trailer loads, which had been previously carried out with the sixaxle locomotives of the DB series 232. Soon, the vehicles will be stationed in the Ruhr Area.

After endorsing the Gravita 10 BB, which was given design approval in summer 2010, the EBA has now also granted the necessary authorization for its 'big sister' in the form of series approval.

In accordance with the prevailing legal regulations of the Trans-European Railway Interoperability Ordinance (TEIV), the EBA will, as of this year, no longer grant operating authorization. Instead, the manufacturer will release the vehicles for service by submitting a relevant Declaration of Conformity.

Voith Turbo, the specialist for hydrodynamic drive, coupling and braking systems for road, rail and industrial applications, as well as for ship propulsion systems, is a Group Division of Voith GmbH.

Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transportation & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs more than 42,000 people, generates € 5.7 billion in sales, operates in about 50 countries around the world and is today one of the biggest family-owned companies in Europe.