Abstract text

The invention relates to a traction drive for the driving and generative braking of a rail vehicle or a combination of rail vehicles, at least one permanent-field synchronous motor and a traction current converter being associated with at least one axle of the rail vehicle or combination of rail vehicles. The traction current converter includes at least one pulse current converter on the engine side, and the clamps of the permanent-field synchronous motor are connected to a change-over switch such that the permanent-field synchronous motor can be connected to a load circuit forming a load, to drive the pulse current converter or for generative braking. According to the invention, the load circuit connected to the permanent-field synchronous motor for generative braking is designed and/or controlled in such a way that the characteristic values of the load circuit can be modified according to the loading of the rail vehicle or combination of rail vehicles.