Earlier this year, Metrans Rail took delivery of three TRAXX MS locomotives with extended (+NL) country specific package DE/AT/CZ/SK/HU/PL/NL. The designated 386 028-030 left the Bombardier factory in Kassel and then where sidelined awaiting further progress of the project, as the locomotives are not yet homologated not approved for the countries mentioned.

Nevertheless, Metrans Rail has now decided to start operating the machines in the Czech Republic and Germany, as we see unit 386 030 pulling a freight train around Hamburg in the picture above. Photo: Krisztián Balla

Today, Metrans locomotive-to-be no. 386 030 showed itself briefly outside the Bombardier factory perimiters in Kassel, together with NS E 186 002, which is being used by Bombardier for tests and validation. The large Metrans logos on the 030 are still missing. We missed it, but Metrans 386 029 completed its maiden run on 03.02.2017. Photo: Christian Klotz

On 26.01.2017, the machine had its maiden run, on 27.01.2017 it was transferred to the customer. Metrans 386 028 is indeed equipped with signalling and safety system for seven countries in stead of six, presumably DE/AT/CZ/SK/HU/PL and (new!) NL. However, all countries in its UIC grid are still crossed out. Let's see how this develops and when we can expect 028 to arrive in the Netherlands. Photo: Christian Klotz / Marcus Alf

Another new TRAXX MS locomotive for Metrans has left Kassel today. No. 386 025. Photo: Christian Klotz

Metrans Rail is currently receiving new TRAXX MS locomotives for its fleet for international freight services. New are 386 021 (handed over on 31.10.2016) and 022 (30.11.2016) and 023 (05.12.2016). Filip Dittrich made a picture of the latter one on 01.12.2016 in Prague. Its UIC raster tells us the machine has not been released yet for all the countries it will be running in the future.

Back ground: Metrans Rail has signed a contract with Bombardier for the delivery of ten additional TRAXX MS locomotives in 2015, bringing the total to 30. The plan is to have seven units get the packages for Germany, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary (identical to the first twenty machines). The remaining three machines should additionally get ETCS and the Dutch railway signalling system so they can be used for freight services to and from Rotterdam (NL)

Update: Today 386 024 completed its maiden run, recorded by Marcus Alf and Martin Voigt:

Today we have seen the first TRAXX MS locomotive (386 series) from the second batch for Metrans: 386 021. It has the country specific packages for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Austria and Germany. The Czech railfreight operator still has ten locomotives on order. This order was placed in 2015 according to our newest information. - CK

Hamburg, 16.09.2016: the presentation of Metrans 386 020 -150 Jahre Hafenbahn-. Thanks to Torsten Bätge for the images of the presentation. Pavel Dvořák sent an image of the loco on its first trip in its livery into the Czech Republic.

On 13.03.2016, Metrans 386 012 was seen in Poland with a freight train. Today, Metrans did the same but with 386 014. It is the first time we see Metrans using its TRAXX MS locomotives in Poland, coming from the Czech Republic and running via Miedzylesie, Wroclaw, Ostrow Wielkopolski to Gadki near Poznan. (Łukasz Piotrowski)

Yesterday, Komárom in Hungary was stage to acceptance tests with Metrans 386 002 and 003. (Zoltán Katona)

Czech operator Metrans Rail has signed a contract with Bombardier for the delivery of ten additional Traxx MS locomotives. Also, the option taken in December 2013, when ordering the first twenty machines, has become a fixed order now.

Bombardier will delivered the ten machines in two different country specific configurations. Seven units get the packages for Germany, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary (as the first twenty machines). The remaining three machines additionally get ETCS and the Dutch railway signalling system so they can be used for freight services to and from Rotterdam (NL).

On 27.03.2015, the last two Traxx MS locomotives for freight operator Metrans Rail, left Kassel. With the delivery of 386 019 and 020, the batch of twenty is complete. There is still an option for ten locomotives. - CK/MS

And then there were two new Traxx MS machine for Metrans: 386 014 and 015. Five more to go for this operator for the Czech Republic. BTW, interesting fact: In Germany the Metrans locomotive have a 186 series number, to be compatible with the LZB train system: 186 401-420. Metrans TRAXX MS2e

The use of the new Metrans Traxx MS locomotives (386 series) for regular trains has started. They are used spot services to and in Germany and from Prague (CZ) to Salzburg (AT) vv. Locomotive 386 001 to 007 are now available for revenue services. An example is locomotive 386 006 that picked up train no. 43304 Rotterdam - Prague at Dessau and returning with train 43307 on Sunday 14.12.2014. Services to Salzburg started on 16.12.2014. These are not expected to be part of the final service plan for 386s. - PK

By the end of the year, it is expected that Bombardier has delivered to machines up til number 386 012 to Metrans Metrans TRAXX MS2e

Meanwhile, the Metrans 386s are approved for services in Germany and Austria. For the Czech Republic the process is ongoing. At least 386 001-003 are appoved for this country too. This means the new machines will soon enter service. This already has consequences for the fleet of lease locomotives. Metrans returned 186 181 to Railpool. The machine is now hired to Rurtalbahn Cargo. - MG/PK/TO Metrans TRAXX MS2e Railpool TRAXX MS2e

Metrans TRAXX MS2e

Meanwhile, in Kassel 386 006 and 007 were seen last week. - CK

[update] A new image from the complete train with 386 002 and 003. E 186 181, hired to metrans, is pulling the train. Some eyebrows were raised in Germany as 386 003 raised its pantograph during the transport implicating it was also pulling along. A curious sight as the new Metrans locomotives have not been approved officially for any country outside the Czech Republic.

Metrans TRAXX MS2e

Metrans TRAXX MS2e

Today, the first Metrans machine made a test run. Unit 386 001 was seen around Kassel. Unlike the machines leased from Railpool, this machine is completely silver with a big Metrans logo on its side. Smaller one can find the logos of the bank financing the deal and HHLA logos up front. BTW. Did you know the Metrans 386 001 is on our latest poster project? It was the last one we could add before the design was sent to the printer. - CK

Railcolor: More information about these trains:

Metrans TRAXX MS2e

Hello Metrans 386 series

Klaus-Dieter Peters, Chairman of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG’s (HHLA) Executive Board: “HHLA’s business model is based on the close dovetailing and optimisation of all processes along the transport chain between seaport and clients in the European hinterland. To do this, we rely on our own facilities and rolling stock so that we can even better oversee our processes, sustainably improve the quality of our services and provide more attractive offers for our clients. We are continuing to systematically implement this strategy with the purchase of the Bombardier locomotives. Since we meanwhile also provide our own shunting services in the Port of Hamburg, we will be further increasing the vertical range of production with the newly acquired locomotives.”

Jiri Samek, Managing Director of the Metrans Group, explains: “The locomotives that we are purchasing from Bombardier are perfect for meeting our requirements. Due to the fact that they can cope with the different power supply and automatic train protection systems in Central Europe, we will be using them primarily for traffic to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, but also to Austria, Switzerland and within Germany. By using our own, high-performance locomotives, we hope to achieve both a reduction in costs and, in particular, a further increase in production quality. With more than ninety weekly connections between Hamburg and the Metrans terminals in Prague and Ceska Trebova e.g., reliable production is of the utmost importance.”

Metrans currently offers up to seven departures per day in each direction between the Port of Hamburg and the Czech hub terminals in Prague and Ceska Trebova. The shunting of individual carriages, which costs both time and energy, is eliminated since the block trains used are always arranged in the same way. The number of weekly Metrans shuttle trains on the most important routes is as follows:

- Hamburg–Prague/Ceska Trebova: 92
- Bremerhaven–Prague/Ceska Trebova: 28
- Rotterdam–Prague/Ceska Trebova/Dunajska Streda: 18
- Koper–Dunajska Streda: 28

Metrans has also been offering its clients tightly scheduled rail connections within Germany, Austria and Switzerland since autumn 2012. While routes to Austria run via hub terminals, Metrans has set up direct connections between sites in Germany/Switzerland and Hamburg/Bremerhaven. To meet rising demand, the number of departures has been continuously increased:

- Hamburg–Bavaria (Munich/Nuremberg): 22
- Hamburg–Leipzig: 14
- Hamburg–Ludwigshafen/Basle: 6

Ulrich Jochem, President of the Locomotives business unit at Bombardier Transportation, added: “The TRAXX locomotives for the HHLA subsidiary Metrans will be the first Bombardier locomotives that will be used in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Through our collaboration with Metrans, we are thus expanding the radius for our TRAXX multi-system locomotives, of which more than 260 are already in operation.”

The Bombardier TRAXX F140 MS are among the most modern locomotives in electric rail freight transport, and they can be used along all European routes. They drive with a maximum output of 5,600 kW and with a maximum speed of 140 km/h. The TRAXX F140 MS locomotive can be used for cargo and passenger transport services, though its high pulling power makes it particularly well suited for cargo transport. - HHLA

Railcolor: More information about these trains:

Metrans TRAXX MS2e

Metrans has twenty Traxx MS machines on order, with a option for ten more. Around 15 units should be in service by the end of this year. Metrans has ordered them with a new country specific package: DE-AT-PL-CZ-SK-HU. Test with Alpha Trains 186 133 have been conducted already (in Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Austria) to make this possible. - Railvolution/JP/MG/zelpage/urzd.sk/spz.logout.cz/PS/TO

BTW: Railpool 186 275 is now decorated with a full set of Metrans logos.

More information about these trains:

Metrans TRAXX MS2e

Now, with Metrans 186 187 testruns are being held, to replace the current restricted appoval of Traxx MS in Slovakia by a full approval. The image shows the locomotive near Chotín during electromagnetic compatibility measurements. This image shows the 186 187 now running between Čadca and Skalité (one-track route, 3 kV DC).

Update: new images of tests with Railpool > Metrans locomotive 186 187.

Traxx MS locomotives that have a restricted approval for SK at this moment are 186 133, 181, 182, 183, 187, 237, 238, 240, 289 and 291. Predominantly, locomotives in service of Metrans.

And this links to background of all these tests. It is rumored that freight operator Metrans will receive new Traxx MS locomotives, approved for DE-AT-PL-CZ-SK-HU.

JP/MG/zelpage/urzd.sk/spz.logout.cz/PS/TO Alpha Trains TRAXX MS2e Metrans TRAXX MS2e Railpool TRAXX MS2e