A drive of a rail vehicle includes two drive wheels and a wheel set shaft which connects the drive wheels for rotation about an axis. A dynamoelectric machine includes a shaft extending axially parallel to the wheel set shaft and mounted for rotation about a further axis. A transmission connects the shaft of the dynamoelectric machine and the wheel set shaft by a non-positive fit. Placed between the dynamoelectric machine and the transmission is a coupling which is configured for direct attachment of a brake disk of a braking apparatus which is arranged between the transmission and the dynamoelectric machine.