Delivery completed. As of this weekend, Vectron locomotives 193 558 and 559 are in service. They follow quickly after the commissioning of 193 556 and 557 of last week. All 10 machines ordered are now handed over, and there are 8 (!) different sticker designs:

193 550: ‘Zwei Pole mit Enormer Zugkraft’
193 551: ‘Zwei Pole mit Enormer Zugkraft’
193 552: ‘Responsibility Driven’
193 553: ‘Responsibility Driven’
193 554: ‘TXLeitwolf’
193 555: ‘Offroad’
193 556: ‘License to Rail’
193 557: ‘Daily Heroes’
193 558: ‘Natural talent’
193 559: ‘Naturail’

A picture of 193 559 can be seen here

The new 193 557 in the sun at 29.08.2017 in Wanne-Eickel (DE). This locomotive is the latest addition to the Vectron fleet of Alpha Trains. TX Logistik is operating the machine. Now there are eight Alpha Trains > TX Logistik Vectron locomotives, in six different design. Two more to come. Check Railcolornews.com for bigger pictures. Photos: Timo Albert

Early this month, two more Vectron locomotives were added to the fleet of Alpha Trains, and TX Logistik; 193 556 and 557. The first one mentioned is now seen with new stickers on its sides, clearly inspired by double O seven... 'license to rail".

Two more Vectrons for Alpha Trains have entered revenue service. On 02.08.2017 we received the first images of 193 556 and 557 out and about or pulling their first freight trains.

The many Vectron stock locomotive transports offer us an overview of locomotives that are to be delivered in the near future. An unusual 'peek into the kitchen'. Recently, we have seen for example:

- the 475 408 for BLS Cargo
- X4E - 661, 662, 663, 666, 669 and 670 for MRCE
- 193 558 and 559 for Alpha Trains
- various stock locos not assigned to a customer yet: 22202, 22208, 22209, 22235, 22239 and 22250-22253 and 22255

On 26.04.2017, lease company Alpha Trains and railfreight operator TX Logistik took delivery of the last Vectron locomotive of a serie of six, that were ordered in 2016. The machine with no. 193 555 is completely wrapped in a 'Off-road' themed livery, promoting TX Logistik's NiKRASA system, with which it is possible to make non-craneable semitrailers craneable.

We expect the 193 555 to be presented during the 'transport logistik' exhibition in two weeks in Munich. TX Logistik has also announced that the delivery of four additional locomotives, of which several have already been built, will commence in August 2017.

A 'Lastprobefahrt' last week with Siemens 247 905 gave us the opportunity to have a little peak into the future of the Siemens Vectron production. Siemens decided to use a batch of new Vectron electric units to serve as 'ballast weight' during the test runs. All machines are new and did not yet leave the factory gates.

Update: 247 905 has been handed over to InfraLeuna as a temporary replacement of 247 907, because Siemens will perform some finishing touches on the latter.

Alpha Trains Vectron MRCE Vectron PKP Cargo Vectron

On 12.04.2017, Siemens delivered the next three Vectron locomotives to Alpha Trains and TX Logistik. One of them is 193 553 with -Responsibility Driven- stickers. Photos: Marc Anders

New: A nice image of 193 554, that has the same livery, by Sebastian Winter.

This year, Siemens will not hand-over six, but 10 new Vectron locomotives to lease company Alpha Trains. In April 2016, six Vectron multi-system locomotives were ordered, now four have been added (the option). All will be leased out to freight operator TX Logistik, that will use them on for north-south Trans-Alp freight services (Padborg - Verona). The machines are thus equipped for Germany, Austria and Italy.

On 29.03.2017, the first two machines were officially handed over the Alpha Trains (no's 193 550 and 551, see title image). This year, the remaining eight units will be handed over in three phases. All locomotives have ETCS on board and have a top speed of 160 kph.

See the full article here.

On 01.04.2017 we got the announcement a huge 'Lok-Zug' (loco-train) was out and about. Various people were on site and made beautiful images of this 13-Vectron consist. Almost all locomotives in this transport are new to us and have not left the Siemens factory perimeters before.

Photo: Markus Kraus

02.04.2017 at Benhausen (DE). Photo: Marcus Alf

The Alpha Trains batch if Vectron locomotives features various themed designs, a list:

• 193 550: 'Zwei Pole mit Enormer Zugkraft'
• 193 551: 'Zwei Pole mit Enormer Zugkraft'
• 193 552: 'Responsibility Driven'
• 193 553: 'Responsibility Driven'
• 193 554: 'TXLeitwolf'
• 193 555: 'Offroad'

02.04.2017 at Benhausen (DE). Photo: Marcus Alf

01.04.2017 at Buke (DE). Photo: Hendrik Mergard

But there is more. The consist also has the new MRCE Vectron MS locomotives X4E-646, -647, -648, and -651 on board. The whites are: 5170 021, an oldie used in Polen and four brand new ones with four pantographs, not identifiable yet, although they have these Siemens works numbers: 22039 (=Vectron 200), 22253, 22235 and 22209.

Update: close-ups of the new Alpha Train liveries by Christian Klotz:

A first for us, an Alpha Trains Vectron locomotive pulling a freight train. PUnit. no 550 seen at Burg Brandenstein on 31.03.2017. hoto: Martin Voigt

From Brennero to Cologne. On 11.03.2017, Achim Scheil and Sven Bärwinkel saw the new Siemens Vectron MS locomotives (MRCE X4E-643/-644/-645 and Alpha Trains 193 550/551 that were in Brennero earlier this week) in Cologne. But now three white units have been added to the convoy. Two we already know, Vectron DC no. 5170 020 and 034, but the third one is brand new. It does not have any numbers yet, except for its works number, being no. 22208. A close-up:

Today Siemens has released the first Vectron locomotives for lease company Alpha Trains from its work in Munich. The designated 193 550 pulled the identical 193 551 and the black X4E-645, 634 and 644 for MRCE to Brennero. Although for different customers, all five Siemens multi system electrics have the same country specific package: Germany + Austria + Italy.

We thank Ronny Bruns for the pictures in this article.

Currently the full certification of the Vectron MS for Italy is showing progress. ANSF, in charge of the homologation of railway vehicles in Italy, recently gave green light for MRCE's X4E-640, so we expect more to follow soon.

The 193 550 and 551 have the current Alpha Trains livery in lime green and silver. Both machines will soon be operated by railfreight company TX Logistik. To express the cooperation between lease company and its customer, both machines got additional stickers with the slogan 'Zwei Pole mit Enormer Zugkraft' (= Two poles with huge tractive power).

Alpha Trains 193 550, 551 and MRCE X4E/193 645, 643 and 644 on their way from Munich to Brennero. 06.03.2017. Photo: Ronny Bruns

The locomotives have arrived at Brennero station. Photo: Michael Goll

Alpha Trains Luxembourg S.à.r.l. has reached an agreement with Siemens regarding the purchase of six Vectron locomotives with options for a further four machines. Included in the order is a full service and maintenance package.

The multisystem electrics will be equipped with all relevant systems for use in Germany, Austria and Italy, and will have ETCS on board. All six locomotives will be leased to TX Logistik with deliveries starting in early 2017.

According to Alpha Trains the locomotives will be delivered carrying a special design. We are curious what the final result will be.