According to reliable sources, German authorities have withdrawn approval for new BB 437000 SNCF freight locos. Amongst other reasons given for prohibiting their access to the network is that their weight does not conform to UIC standards, according to 'tests' carried out by the EBA (German Federal Railway Authority).

In June 29, 2005, when announcing clearance for the French freight locos to work over the German rail network, the EBA had put conditions on their operation through an agreement with dBNetz (German Network Rail).

However, in a letter received on August 23, 2005, the infrastructure manager withdrew his approval, referring to an "infrastructure access" problem discovered during dynamic testing: "lateral movement" would be too great in "short radius curves".

Questioned on this point, the SNCF President confirmed our information: "Our engines were first approved this summer and we have just learned that new modifications are necessary so as to make them acceptable. These ratification problems are inextricable".

Hartmut Medhorn (President of dBAG, German Railways) and Louis Gallois (SNCF President) have grappled with the subject, the dB President promising to intercede on SNCF’s behalf. On the ground, train drivers at Thionville, who had just obtained the requisite authorisation to operate as far as Gremberg (close to Cologne) must content themselves today with driving just a few kilometres inside German territory.

An exemption authorises them to operate up to Ehrang, of course, but according to a reliable source, this is far from being an unselfish measure: "If dBNetz had announced a total ban, Railion (the Dutch/German privatised Rail Freight Operator) would have had difficulties in coming to collect freight at the border. It would have been necessary to bring 181 dual-network functional machines into service between Apach and Ehrang".

A crisis meeting was organised by the engineering management on November 8, to enumerate possible measures to resolve the problem. Amongst them, the possibility of carrying out further tests with flange greasers, which were isolated during the first dynamic testing.

At the same time, negotiations are ongoing with the German authorities. Sources hope to see them going on until June 2006.

While he is waiting, Louis Gallois does not hide his irritation: "While this is going on, lorries continue to cross borders and no-one asks them if they have approval or not".