CargoSprinter

The CargoSprinter is a freight multiple unit designed to transport freight or equipment. The CargoSprinter was designed by Windhoff GmbH (Germany) in the mid-1990s.
Initially seven vehicles were built for Deutsche Bahn. Four were built by Windhoff and had the reporting code DB class 690. Another three closely similar units were built by Waggonfabrik Talbot ('Talbot Talion') and given the reporting code DB class 691. The design did not lead to further freight work, several of the trains were later converted for other uses including tunnel rescue trains.
A variant for infrastructure and service trains, named the Multi Purpose Vehicle has been sold to a number of countries, mainly for use by rail infrastructure companies, including the United Kingdom (Railtrack; track maintenance and specialised overhead electrification train), Switzerland (specialised tunnel rescue and firefighting version), and the Netherlands and Taiwan (maintenance of high speed lines).
== History and design ==
The CargoSprinter was developed in 1996 by Windhoff in association with freight operators DB Cargo and Fraport. The concept was for a self powered container carrying freight train, with a relatively high top speed enabling it to operate without disrupting passenger services.  The train was a five-car permanently connected set of container-carrying vehicles (capacity ~10TEU), with driving cab at each end (motorised with underfloor engines), and capable of being easily connected and worked in multiple with other CargoSprinter trains. The original designs were taken from concept stage to production in 12 months.
The new concept was optimistically received as offering a step change in rail freight transportation, allowing rapid efficient transport of less than trainload and shortline freight, 7 vehicles were initially built (1997) for trials with Deutsche Bahn. In practice the CargoSprinter concept was not a success as a commercial freight vehicle, trials of the vehicles did not lead to regular work. Ex-freight trial vehicles later found use modified for specialised roles, such as tunnel rescue, and hybrid powered freight trains.
The design was more successful as an infrastructure and services train: in 1998 Windhoff received a 57DM million order from Railtrack (UK) for 25 trains derived from the CargoSprinter type, named Multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), developed in association with AMEC Rail; the trains were to be used for infrastructure maintenance including rail deicing, and railhead treatment, 7 more sets were acquired in 2000.
In 2002 the CargoSprinter train was used as the mechanical basis of the CargoMover automated freight wagon concept developed by Siemens.
Other specialised designs based on the Windhoff MPV include a dedicated fire fighting and tunnel rescue trains (Switzerland; 2003, Austria; 2004), and railway overhead electrification factory trains for both wire renewal, and overhead line construction. (UK; 2000, 2011)
MPV vehicles are also in use by rail infrastructure companies in Taiwan (2007–)., and the Netherlands (2007–).
Category:Non-passenger multiple units