Mehrsystem

Mehrsystem is a term used in engineering and transportation to describe equipment designed to operate across multiple standards, voltages, or regulatory regimes. In railway contexts, a Mehrsystem-Lokomotive or Mehrsystem-Fahrzeug can run under more than one electrification system and/or signalling regime, enabling cross-border operations without changing traction components. This capability reduces the need for locomotive handovers and supports smoother international services.

Typical configurations include multiple traction systems for different AC and DC supplies, multiple pantographs, and compatibility with diverse safety and interoperability standards. Equipment designed as Mehrsystem often features automatic voltage selection, power electronics that tolerate different supply frequencies, and software that complies with varied national regulations. Deployment is common on multinational networks, where trains traverse borders using different electrification schemes, such as varying voltages and frequencies.

The development of Mehrsystem equipment aims to shorten journey times, increase network flexibility, and improve interoperability between rail systems. However, such locomotives and vehicles generally incur higher procurement costs and more complex maintenance due to the need to support multiple interfaces and certification processes.

Beyond railways, Mehrsystem can refer more broadly to devices that interface with multiple power or communication systems, such as power converters, inverters, or controllers capable of operating from different networks or communicating via different protocols.

See also interoperability, cross-border rail, multi-system traction, ERTMS.