Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation announced today that its BOMBARDIER TRAXX AC3 Last Mile Locomotive has been homologated in Germany. The locomotive received official approval for operation from the German Railway Authority Eisenbahn-Bundesamt (EBA) on 17.12.2015.

Ulrich Jochem, Head of Locomotives, Bombardier Transportation, said, "Approval by the German Railway Authority is a very important milestone for further implementing the TRAXX AC3 Last Mile locomotive in Central Europe. The TRAXX AC3 Last Mile locomotive will make it possible to utilize entirely new logistics concepts."

The TRAXX locomotive's Last Mile features an innovative support diesel engine with an accompanying traction battery and a remote control for shunting. Together, these systems enable this electric locomotive to efficiently bridge sections of non-electrified track. This ability is put to great use in places like ports, terminals, depots or factories where a supporting diesel shunting locomotive is often called in to help trains cross the final, non-electrified, track sections known as the "last mile". Efficiently, economically (with one driver only) and environmentally friendly, the TRAXX AC3 Last Mile locomotives use their support diesel engines only when necessary, and are entirely emission-free when operating in traction battery mode while providing full traction performance also in last mile mode. The TRAXX AC3 Last Mile locomotive is also the first locomotive with the Last Mile functionality to receive homologation in Germany.

Bombardier has already received over 240 orders for different TRAXX AC3 locomotive variants and the innovative locomotive has also won various certifications in accordance with the applicable TSI (technical specifications for interoperability).

A Bombardier TRAXX AC3 Last Mile Locomotive from the pool of the leasing company Railpool travelled in December for the first time in Croatia. The aim: approval during the first quarter of 2016. In cooperation with the approval authorities locomotive no. 187 001 was first fully tested statically. The subsequent dynamic test focused on brake distance measurements, amongst others in different brake modes. A test journey on December 14th took place between Zagreb and Slavonski Brod. Ten kilometers of this stretch, the locomotive accomplished in Last Mile mode; the transition from electrical operation to last mile mode and back took place whilst traveling. The data obtained during the test are now sent to the approval authorities who will analyze them. The data represent necessary information in relation to the approval process. (Bombardier) 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives Railpool Traxx AC3 LM

ECR E186 312 + ECR E186 325 + Bombardier 187 001 + Railpool 186 427. (Christian Klotz)

The authorization was granted after extensive testing of the eight locomotives ordered by Railpool, three of which were deployed in Switzerland by BLS. Four more will be delivered to Akiem, and an additional Traxx AC3 locomotive with the innovative Last Mile feature was handed over last week to the Swiss company Swiss Rail Traffic (SRT). The locomotive's Last Mile feature, a combination of auxiliary diesel engine and battery, will help SRT bridge a five-kilometre non-electrified line section.

The Last Mile feature enables the locomotive to cover the frequently non-electrified "last mile" in ports, container terminals, saw mills or railway stations under its own power, rendering shunting locomotives and other solutions obsolete. In fact, Last Mile-equipped locomotive are able to run on non-electrified line sections on their own power for up to eight hours – without reducing tractive effort as compared with running under catenary wire. Official Traxx locomotive approval is also expected in Austria and Germany in the immediate future. - Bombardier 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives 187 009-010 - test bed locomotives Akiem Traxx AC3 Last Mile Railpool Traxx AC3 LM Swiss Rail Traffic TRAXX AC3

June 6 2014, 187 001 and 006 and a little trip from Spiez up to Kanderstag and back:

Meanwhile, 187 004, 005 and 007 are on their way to the Czech Republic (destination VUZ Velim test center). RailAdventure picked up the 004 in Ingolstadt and the 005 and 007 came from Kassel.

More information about these trains:

187 001-003 - test bed locomotives Railpool Traxx AC3 LM

187 001-003 - test bed locomotives

Read the complete press statement (DE) here.

A milestone for Bombardier and BLS Cargo. On 05.03.2014, the Swiss freight operator completed the delivery of an articulated trainset to the freight terminal in Visp. This was done on a track section without catenary. No problem for the Traxx locomotive with additional diesel engine and battery.

BLS Cargo will transport seven new trainsets from Bussnang to Visp. Locomotive 187 002 was used to deliver the first transport. With the locomotive BLS Cargo no longer has to rely on a local shunting company, just to move the train over the last couple of kilometers. This results in a more efficient process for BLS Cargo.

The Bombardier Traxx AC3 with Last Mile module is not yet homologated for Switzerland. This commercial run was still part of the approval process. BLS Cargo expects that the locomotive will be granted full approval within months. By then, it will receive two additional locomotives of the same type. - BLS Cargo 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives Railpool Traxx AC3 LM

Railpool has decided to strictly apply its standard livery to the locomotive; A silver base livery and the blue banner on every side. Very smart is the application of the big Railpool logos on the ribbed side walls. It will always be visible when no Flex Panel is used. Customers of Railpool to use such a Panel, to be spanned over the ribs, to apply their own identity to the locomotive.

Railpool will also buy the three prototype locomotives (the designated 187 001-003) that are being used for tests and homologation right now. Resume, they will have eight Traxx AC3 locomotives in their fleet, for now. 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives Railpool Traxx AC3 LM

The Bombardier Traxx AC3 Last Mile locomotive can now be used on the Swiss rail network when accompanied by another locomotive: On 09.07.2013, the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (BAV) issued the necessary operating permit for double-heading operation. Railpool is the first buyer of a total of eight Traxx AC Last Mile locomotives; BLS Cargo AG will operate the first three of these in Switzerland. Bombardier Transportation will use the operating permit to carry out further test runs with freight trains during the approval procedure in Switzerland. This is the locomotive’s second venture onto Swiss rails. In the first phase, it was on Swiss rails during test runs to prove that it was compatible with the network. At the end of the current, second phase, the locomotive will have the permit for accompanied test operation and the locomotive will be allowed to pull a train by itself. Thereafter, the locomotive will then be approved for use on the normal Swiss rail network. - Bombardier

< check the Trainspo.com gallery

187 001-003 - test bed locomotives AKIEM BB 37000

'Last week it (Railcolor: locomotive 187 003) hauled for the first time a train in the Austrian mountains (with two Traxx MS locomotives, each with fifty percent of its performance). The locomotives started in Munich, pulling a train with a weight of 2550 tons. In Hall (Tirol) the train was divided into two parts. Afterwards the locomotives hauled a 1500 tons train at the top of the Brenner pass – on gradients of up to 29 promille. On its way back the Traxx AC Last Mile locomotive was able to brake a train with a weight of 970 tons recuperatively, because of its high electrical braking capability. So the locomotive proved that it shows due to technical advancements of its maximum towing capacity a very good performance in the mountains – a performance which further increases the already very good performance of the Traxx platform in the mountains.' 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives

Extending your reach in rail, that is the slogan of Bombardier during the t&l fair in Munich, that opened today. The company offers information of all its latest products. The two main items:

> Bombardier Traxx AC Last Mile Locomotive is currently in the approval process
> Last Mile function with additional low-emission Diesel engine and battery enables the seamless transportation of goods

Railcolor: On the place where a red 186 series locomotive was exhibited, two years ago, now a Bombardier Traxx AC3 Last Mile locomotive is parked. Locomotive 187 003 has special red flex panels for the fair, also sporting the logos of DB Schenker Rail. The latter company has opted for many new Traxx locomotives for its freight oparator, but there is no official order for machines with last mile option. For now, twelve Last Mile have been sold by Bombardier. Five new machines and the three prototypes will be delivered to lease company Railpool. Four more will be built for leasing company Akiem. 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives Akiem Traxx AC3 Last Mile Railpool Traxx AC3 LM

After that, the operational optimization of the locomotive is due which is expected to end in late 2013, with the homologation of the locomotive for commercial rail traffic in Switzerland. - Bombardier

Railcolor: We already published some pictures of 187 002 on the Swiss network a month ago. In the mean time, the locomotive got flex-panels again. 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives

On 16.05.2013, Bombardier Transportation proved today that its Traxx AC Last Mile locomotive is closing the logistics gap in the rail sector during a customer and press event in Velim, Czech Republic. The Last Mile mode, a combination of diesel engine and support traction battery premiered by Bombardier, allows rail vehicles to overcome short distances without catenaries.

At the test circuit in Velim, the Traxx AC Last Mile locomotive (Railcolor: 187 003) showed that it can haul trains weighing up to 2,000 tonnes not only on electrified lines but also in Last Mile mode. The locomotive masters short distances on non-electrified lines without producing any emissions by using only its battery. This will enable rail companies to manage traffic into harbours, freight terminals and loading depots without additional trucks or shunting locomotives.

In Last Mile mode, the locomotive reaches a top speed of 40 km/h while hauling heavy trains and up to 60 km/h running alone. On electrified lines, it reaches up to 160 km/h. The transition from electric to diesel traction is performed dynamically, which means without stopping. The Last Mile function thereby enables operators to benefit from the huge environmental advantage of an electric locomotive running also on short non-electrified lines.

The TRAXX AC with Last Mile function is currently undergoing homologation. Launch customers are Railpool and Akiem. Railpool will lease three of these locomotives to the Swiss railway company, BLS Cargo. “This new locomotive harmoniously combines economy and ecology, a big advantage for our customers in the global market,” said Janis Vitins, Director Marketing and Product Planning, Locomotives, Bombardier Transportation. “Around the world, we are facing challenges to people’s mobility and the environment due to urbanisation. Bombardier is at the forefront of developing precisely fitting technologies that improve total vehicle performance to move more people and regarding the TRAXX AC Last Mile especially more goods than ever before efficiently.” Locomotives are the backbone of most freight and many passenger services around the world.

187 001-003 - test bed locomotives Akiem Traxx AC3 Last Mile

Zero-Emission Rail Traffic: A high-performance, long-distance locomotive that runs short distances without electricity or fuel is being tested on the test circle in Hennigsdorf, Germany. The new Traxx AC Last Mile locomotive by Bombardier Transportation can bridge short distances powered by a high-performance battery that is part of the locomotive’s propulsion system. Further, the electric Traxx locomotive is also equipped with an additional diesel engine that can bridge the “last mile“ over longer distances without electricity. This innovative locomotive thus presents multiple ways of efficiently operating a locomotive both economically and ecologically. Starting with the BOMBARDIER Traxx AC Last Mile locomotive, in the coming years developments in conjunction with new battery forms are expected to move the industry closer to zero-emission rail traffic. 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives

In Hennigsdorf the performance parameters of the Last Mile unit are measured and evaluated. Brake tests were completed successfully. This is a major step in the homologation process of the Last Mile. Bombardier expects to commence trials in 'real life' medio 2013. - Bombardier 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives

First there was the light grey 146 552-5, one of the first units to be completed for DB Transport, to be used with new 'Intercity'-double deck trains. Next was 'Last Mile' 187 001, getting ready for the Innotrans as it has now special flexpanels for this fair. Also around was 245 003-9 for DB Regio, making its first test rounds. 187 001-003 - test bed locomotives DB Fernverkehr Traxx AC2 DB Traxx DE Multi Engine