The invention relates to a drive
system for a rail vehicle, wherein the drive
system comprises an
internal combustion engine, a generator driven by the
internal combustion engine and configured to generate a three-phase alternating
voltage in generator mode, an uncontrolled first
rectifier, a first connection electrically connecting the generator to the first
rectifier, a first DC intermediate circuit in which at least one first intermediate circuit
capacitor is arranged, at least one controlled first
inverter, at least one first
drive motor which can be operated by means of an alternating
voltage from the first
inverter, a second connection electrically connecting the first
inverter to the first
drive motor, and a control device.The drive
system is characterized by the fact that the generator is designed to start the
internal combustion engine in engine mode, that the drive system includes a third connection by means of which the generator can be electrically connected to the first inverter, and that the control device is additionally designed to control the first inverter in such a way that it provides an alternating
voltage by means of which, with the third connection closed, the generator can be operated in engine mode.