SŽ-VIT has returned the first overhauled Siemens Mobility Vectron electric locomotive to leasing company Beacon Rail, completing work on unit 191-023 at its Ljubljana workshop in September.

The Slovenian national operator Slovenske železnice's maintenance arm said the Ljubljana Maintenance Section carried out the full overhaul in-house, calling the result "a major achievement and an important new business opportunity". Two Vectron overhauls are scheduled for completion this year, with a further six in 2027.

How did SŽ-VIT reach a first Vectron overhaul?

SŽ-VIT began electric locomotive maintenance in 2019 and first entered the international market through work for MRCE, the leasing business Beacon Rail acquired in 2023. That relationship gave the Ljubljana team hands-on exposure to Vectron hardware, although work stayed at inspection level.

At home, SŽ-VIT already services the parent's Siemens Class 541 fleet from the Taurus family — a direct Vectron forerunner — which left engineers familiar with much of the drivetrain, traction and control architecture carried over to the newer Siemens Mobility platform.

To bridge the gap between inspection and full overhaul, SŽ-VIT sent staff to Knorr-Bremse for braking-system training and invested in bogie measuring equipment. That supplier enablement, the company said, let the capability expansion proceed "without major hurdles" — keeping the cost of entry low and the dependence on external trainers narrow.

What did the first overhaul actually cover?

SŽ-VIT did not publish the technical scope of the 191-023 job. What the company confirmed is that the locomotive moved from intake to redelivery entirely inside the Slovenian workshop and reached Beacon Rail in September, with all work carried out by SŽ-VIT personnel rather than contracted out.

The company is now preparing to add wheel replacements to the portfolio, extending the depth of service it can sell to Vectron operators across the region and reducing reliance on external wheel-lathe providers for the parent fleet.

What else is the Ljubljana team working on?

In parallel with the Vectron programme, SŽ-VIT has refurbished former SŽ diesel locomotive 643-027 for Skinest Rail's operations on the Croatian network. The unit was originally built by Croatian manufacturer Đuro Đaković.

The refurbishment included a full repaint and the fitment of Altpro's RAS8385 IS automatic train protection system, Funkwerk's Mesa 26 dual-mode GSM-R cab radio, a screw-type air compressor and LED lighting. Each component addresses a specific operational need: the Altpro kit delivers Croatian network compatibility, the Funkwerk radio supports GSM-R voice and data services, and the new compressor and lamps target longer maintenance intervals and lower power draw.

SŽ-VIT has signed a long-term deal to maintain the locomotive both on-site in Zagreb and at its Maribor workshop. Skinest Rail has indicated it may acquire another locomotive of the same type if reliability holds through the warranty period — a potential repeat order that would deepen the cross-border maintenance relationship and pull more work through the Maribor facility.

What is the outlook?

The first Vectron redelivery is the entry ticket. The harder test is throughput: two overhauls this year and six in 2027 will require Ljubljana to sustain a steady intake of Beacon Rail units and keep turnaround times within leasing-market norms.

Beacon Rail, formed from the 2023 MRCE acquisition, is consolidating its pan-European overhaul sourcing as it integrates the former MRCE Vectron pool. Whether SŽ-VIT can hold the schedule will determine if it keeps a permanent place in that supply chain — and whether the Ljubljana section becomes a routine destination for Vectron heavy maintenance rather than a one-off showcase.