25. March 2026, 09:52 o'Clock
Article: 60 locomotives in four months: DB Cargo equips Class 77 fleet with LEADER
Fast rollout, noticeable effect: LEADER reduces consumption and sustainably increases the efficiency of the Class 77 fleet
DB Cargo has taken another important step towards greater efficiency in rail freight transport: since the end of March 2026, the entire Class 77 diesel locomotive fleet has been successfully equipped with the LEADER driving assistance system.
Within just four months, all 60 locomotives in this series were fitted with the new technology. The aim is to reduce fuel consumption by around four to five per cent in future - an important contribution to more resource-conserving and efficient operation.
"The fact that the rollout succeeded at this speed was primarily due to the pragmatic hands-on mentality of the project team, which closely dovetailed development, production and installation," says Philipp Nowak, senior project manager Vehicle Projects.
Digital support for energy-efficient train journeys
The LEADER (Locomotive Engineer Assist Display & Event Recorder) system supports train drivers with real-time recommendations for an energy-efficient driving style. This is based on precise route, position and operating data, which the system uses to calculate optimised driving profiles. The aim is to avoid unnecessary energy consumption, increase efficiency and make operations more transparent.
LEADER has already proven its worth at DB Cargo since 2016; acceptance among train drivers is high. At the end of 2025, the solution was also recognised as „dena Good Practice 2025“.
The tried-and-tested solution from electric traction was adopted for the Class 77 diesel locomotives. Tests confirmed early on that LEADER can also be used reliably in diesel operation - an important step towards further improving the energy efficiency of the entire fleet.
What can LEADER do
- Reduces energy consumption and sustainably improves resource utilisation
- Supports train drivers with real-time instructions for energy-efficient driving
- Uses route, position and operating data to calculate optimised driving profiles
- Developed in cooperation with Knorr-Bremse SfS GmbH
- Successfully in use at DB Cargo since 2016
Customised display holder developed in-house
One particular project success was the development of the required display holder. As the driver's cabs of the various classes differ, a customised solution was required. The project team developed the prototype together with the vehicle maintenance department. The final design was then realised by colleagues at the Saarbrücken maintenance depot and the brackets were produced in series.
Marc Hafner building the bracket for the LEADER driver assistance system in the Saarbrücken maintenance depot.
Fully fitted brackets on the LEADER driver assistance systems in the Saarbrücken maintenance depot.
Rollout directly on the track
The team also relied on pragmatism for the installation: instead of taking the locomotives to the workshop, the project team drove directly to the parked vehicles and fitted them on site. This flexible approach minimised downtimes and significantly accelerated the rollout.
At peak times, the installation in up to 25 traction units was completed in just two days - made possible by the close cooperation along the route from Nuremberg to Munich and the support of the maintenance depots in Nuremberg and Oberhausen.
Jörg Schneider, Head of Sustainability and IMS, installing the LEADER driver's assistance system in a Class 77 driver's cab
"In the end, we needed less than eight minutes per driver's cab to professionally install LEADER and the bracket," reports Jörg Schneider, Head of Sustainability and IMS.
Digitalisation that works
By successfully equipping the Class 77 diesel fleet, DB Cargo is demonstrating how digitalisation can be implemented in rail freight transport: pragmatically, quickly and close to operations.
The result is measurable energy savings and greater operational efficiency - a further step towards more sustainable rail freight transport.
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