Abstract: The invention relates to a traction drive for the driving and generative braking of a rail vehicle or a combination of rail vehicles, a permanent-field synchronous motor and a traction current converter being respectively associated with at least two axles 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 containing at least one load element, in order to drive the pulse current converter or for generative braking.