Asiarunner

Siemens Asiarunner Ar15, AR20[1]
Power type	Diesel
Build date	2006? (Ordered 2004)
Total produced	AR15 VR :16 (for Vietnam Railways)
UIC classification	Co'Co'
Gauge	AR15 :1000 to 1676mm AR20 :1067mm
Length	19.180m[2]
Width	2.688m 2.950m including mirrors[2]
Height	3.945m
Axle load	AR15 :13.5 to 16t AR20 :16t
Locomotive weight	AR15 VR :81t[3]
Fuel type	Diesel
Fuel capacity	4000l
Engine type	MTU 12V4000R41[2]
Top speed	120km/h
Power output	AR15 1500kW AR20 2000kW AR15 ~1220 kW at wheel[3]
Tractive effort	AR15 :260-320kN starting AR20 :320kN starting
Locale	Vietnam

The Siemens Asiarunner locomotives are contemparies to the Eurorunner class and are designed specifically for the South-East Asian market - in particular metre gauge - key features are a Co'Co' wheel arrangement (resulting in low axle loads) and good clearance (see Loading gauge)

Development

Much of the development of the Asiarunner locomotive had to be done from scratch, since Siemens had no contempary example of a narrow gauge, or of a locomotive that was built to a smaller loading gauge that UIC 505-1.^[4]

Nevertheless the design mirrors in part the modular concept found in Siemens other locomotives (the Eurosprinter and Eurorunner). The main frame is one such module. The drivers cabins are also modular components.

Access to the main engine compartment is via the roof, which has three removable segments, there is a single side corridor which allows an escape route in the event of certain emergencies^[5] (compare the wide gauge Eurorunners which have two passageways)

The engine is a 12 cylinder MTU model - similar to that used in the Eurorunner except with 12 instead of 16 cylinders.

The locos can work in multiple with up to three connected.

Operators

Vietnam railways has 16 of the AR15 model which will be used on the main Hanoi – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City route serving both passenger and freight services.^[3]

The locomotive is designed for used in Asia, Africa, South America and Australia

See also

• Siemens Eurorunner
• Siemens Eurosprinter
• Narrow gauge railways
• Rail transport in Vietnam

References

1. ^ "The Asiarunner – The flexible alternative". www.transportation.siemens.com (archive web.archive.org). Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080318025443/http://www.transportation.siemens.com/ts/en/pub/products/lm/services/platforms/asiarunner.htm. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Technical data of locomotive". www.siemens.com.vn (archive web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 28 April 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080428204853/http://www.siemens.com.vn/trans/trans_Press1.htm. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Universal Locomotive AR15 VR, Vietnam Siemens.com
4. ^ *Marc Oliver Girgert; Armin Gasch (2006). "Der Asiarunner für Vietnam = The asiarunner for Vietnam" (in german). Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau (ETR) (Eurailpress, Hamburg) 55 (9): 580–584. ISSN 0013-2845. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18129930. 
5. ^ "News from Transportation Systems : AsiaRunner AR15 VR". www.siemens.com.vr (archive web.archive.org). Archived from the original on 28 April 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080428204846/http://www.siemens.com.vn/trans/trans_Press.htm. "AsiaRunner AR15 VR is the first locomotives in the Asian Runner family for the small gauges: 1000 and 1067mm" 

External links

• "InnoTrans 2006 - Siemens: Asiarunner - Die flexible Entscheidung" (in german). www.lok-report.de, (archive web.archive.org). Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071021192107/http://www.lok-report.de/innotrans2006/innotrans_asiarunner.html. 
• Tobiáš Fuks (5 July 2010). "Asiarunner Vietnamských železnic" (in czech). www.k-report.net. http://www.k-report.net/clanky/asiarunner-vietnamskych-zeleznic/. 

Images

• "D20E - Vietnam / Dieselloks" (in german). www.bahnbilder.de. http://www.bahnbilder.de/name/galerie/kategorie/Vietnam~Dieselloks~D20E.html. 
• David Gurnett. "Railways in Vietnam Locomotives-D20E". railvn.byethost3.com. http://railvn.byethost3.com/D20E.html.