They are equipped with electric motors with a total power of 5000 kW and have been used in both passenger and freight trains on the Greek railways since 1999. It was the first and is currently the only class of fully electric locomotives of the Hellenic Railway Network and the main locomotives used between Athens and Thessaloniki. There are two other types of electric trains in the National Rail Network of Greece, the Siemens Desiro EMU (460 series) and the ΕΤR 470 (in service since 2022).
Origins
The HellasSprinter, strongly resembles the first generation EuroSprinter (and therefore is considered as such by many), a series of electric locomotives that also operated on the DB AG, RENFE (Serie 252) and CP (Serie 5600) networks.[1]
In 1993, with the proclamation 2002/93, the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) held a tender for the supply of thermal and electrical locomotives, in the general context of the modernization of the normal amplitude network, and in the middle of a program for the renewal of engines, due to operating problems of its diverse and aging fleet. The collection included 25 diesel-electric locomotives, which constituted the series A.471 (Later 220) and 6 electric locomotives. The diesel locomotives have a continuous power of 2100 kW, while the electric ones 5000 kW. OSE's goal was low maintenance costs, low fuel / electricity consumption, line protection, heating of passenger trains, execution of commercial and passenger trains at a speed of 160 km / h for diesels and 200 for the electrics and the convertibility of diesels to electrics. The winners of the competition were Siemens and Krauss-Maffei for the electrics and ABB Henschel AG (later ADtranz, now Bombardier) for the diesels.[2]
In service
The construction of the first unit was completed in 1997 and as soon as it completed its trials in Germany, it came to Greece, to be routed on the electrified line Thessaloniki - Eidomeni - Gevgelija. Another 5 units followed, and along with CFR060-EA1-056, an electric locomotive leased from Romania, they began their service in 1998 on the said route, primarily hauling cross-border traffic into North Macedonia. Their locale extended between 2009 and 2018 towards Larissa, Domokos and eventually Athens and Piraeus. A follow-up order was delivered between 2004 and 2005, save for 120 008 which for unexplained reasons had stayed in Munich at the Siemens-Krauss Maffei workshops up to 2007, before entering service in 2008.
In 2019, with the completion of the new Piraeus-Platy line and the units being used on all Athens-Thessaloniki trains, some locomotives were painted with the new dark blue livery of TRAINOSE.[3] At the same time, in the same year, GAIAOSE announced the renovation of 120 001, 120 002, 120 003, 120 005, 120 006, 120 009, 120 013, 120 025 and 120 026.[4]
Accidents
Sometime in 2000, unit Η564 derailed in the Paionia municipality on the Thessaloniki-Gevgelija line. Not much is known about the details of the accident but since then the unit has been placed into storage due to light accident damage.
On 28 February 2023, three units (120 022, 120 012, 120 023)[5] were destroyed in a head-on collision near Evangelismos, Larissa just outside the Tempe Valley, in a train accident that led to the deaths of 57 people and left over 85 people injured. 120 023 was hauling an Athens to Thessaloniki InterCity train at a speed estimated to be around 140 km/h when it collided with 120 012 and 120 022 hauling an intermodal train.
Fleet details
Key:
In service
In storage
Scrapped
List as per 20 July 2023, note it might contain some errors.
Original number
Works number
Builder
Year built
Depot allocation
Livery
Notes
Η561
20323
Krauss-Maffei, ABB
1997
Menemeni, Thessaloniki
Original OSE third logo variant
Current running number 120 001.
Η562
20324
Krauss-Maffei, ABB
1997
Menemeni, Thessaloniki
Original OSE third logo variant
Current running number 120 002.
Η563
20325
Krauss-Maffei, ABB
1997
Menemeni, Thessaloniki
Original OSE third logo variant
Current running number 120 003.
Η564
20326
Krauss-Maffei, ABB
1997
Menemeni, Thessaloniki
Original OSE first logo variant
Damaged in an accident at Paionia in 2000, has been in storage since. Due to this, it has no UIC running number and is on temporary bogies.
Η565
20327
Krauss-Maffei, ABB
1997
Menemeni, Thessaloniki
Original OSE third logo variant
Current running number 120 005.
Η566
20328
Krauss-Maffei, ABB
1997
Menemeni, Thessaloniki
Original OSE third logo variant
Current running number 120 006.
120 007
20645
Siemens Mobility
2004
Menemeni, Thessaloniki
Rail Cargo red
Currently leased to Rail Cargo Austria's local division, Rail Cargo Logistics - Goldair SA
120 008
20646
Siemens Mobility
2004
Menemeni, Thessaloniki
Original OSE
Hellenic Train logo
Sat in storage from 2004 to 2007 in Germany before entering service in Greece the next year.
CP Class 5600 similar locomotives built at the same time for the Portuguese railways, operating only on 25 kV AC
Renfe Class 252 Similar locomotives built from 1991-1996 for the Spanish Railways
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to OSE class 120.
^ ab"Η πρώτη ηλεκτράμαξα των σιδηροδρόμων μας" [The first electric train of our railways]. Σιδηροτροχιά (Siderotrochia) (in Greek) (15). Σύλλογος Φίλων Σιδηροδρόμων (Σ.Φ.Σ.) (Railway Friends Club): 13. July 1997.
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