Krassen Panev sent us an update from Bulgaria. The Vectron locomotive sold to PIMK Rail this year, has been approved for revenue service in Bulgaria. On 08.08.2016 the locomotive was used for the first time hauling a commercial freight train. The images show 192 962 with train 80591 Septemvri - Ruse Sever, a consist of 18 new pocket waggons type Sdggmrss build by the VRZ99 fectory in Septemvri (BG).

And a video

Little did we know about PIMK Rail until now. The company from Bulgaria recently got is first modern locomotive: Vectron 192 962. Think-railways.com sheds some light onto the new company and its newly founded rail operating subsidiary:

"With a planned EUR 9 million for capital investments, PIMK Rail will start operations this autumn. The rail freight operator will run company trains, aiming to take part of its containerised cargo off the road and shift it to rail, informs Capital. (...)

With the support of Austria’s export credit agency (ECA), PIMK has purchased from Siemens one locomotive and is negotiating with the rolling stock manufacturers the acquisition of additional units. Siemens has already delivered one Vectron locomotive, which will operate on both Romanian and Bulgarian market."

Today we bring you the first images of the recently delivered 192 962, yes the medium power Vectron for PIMK rail from Bulgaria. The pictures show blue and white locomotive coupled together with BDZ Cargo 46 124 (on full EMD brake) on Bunovo bridge for example and in the station of Kremikovtsi. Thank you Krassen Panev and Martin Zahariev for the images.

A nice combination: MRCE>GySEV ES64U2-070 pulls PIMK Rail 192 962. The Vectron is on its way to Bulgaria. Thanks Peter for the images.

Customer no.23 is here: Bulgarian logistics company PIMK has purchased two Vectron locomotives from Siemens. First one delivered is 'Medium Power' Vectron 192 962, formerly used by Siemens for tests and promotion.

On 29.04.2016 the machine left Munich, heading for Hungary. The white machine has blue roofs and blue PIMK logos. It sports the name 'Kalina'. The destination displays on 962 have disappeared.

Many ask us, what are the main differences between a Vectron from the 192 series and one from the 193 series? The 193 can be an AC or a multi system electric, but in both configurations it has a maximum power rating of 6.4MW. The 192 has 'only' 5.6MW to its disposal. The maximum speed of a 192 is 160 kph, where the 193 can be 160 or 200 kph.