Seen today in Munich, the first Skoda locomotive for DB Regio: the designated 102 001. Photo: David Bieler

A Skoda NIM-express train is now making its test rounds on the test circuit of VUZ Velim. During the past week, a Skoda 109E electric locomotive pulling/pushing three intermediate cars and a driving trailer. The image above shows the consist with two 109E locomotives. Photo: Dalibor Palko

The four-car formation has run on both the large and small circuits at Velim. On the large circuit the train has already reached its maximum operating speed both with the locomotive and driving trailer leading.

Railwaygazette.com reports:

"China Railway Rolling Stock Corp confirmed on November 28 that its CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive subsidiary was contemplating the acquisition of Škoda Transportation. CRRC stressed that no binding agreement had been reached.

CRRC is understood to be reviewing the finances of the Czech manufacturer, with the details of any deal expected to be announced by end of this year."

Today, Skoda Transportation presents the new DB class 102 locomotive at the VUZ Velim test centre. The anti-espionage stickers were taken off. All red it is. Special thanks to Martin Šarman for the images.

Update: Meanwhile also some videos have been published about the special presentation. Skoda plans to have one DB 102 locomotive on display at InnoTrans 2016.

It was first seen on 28.04.2016: the future DB Regio 102 001. Then it went to the VUZ Velim test center und during the past days the machine made its rounds on the the tracks.

Skoda put some effort in covering up that this locomotive was built for the German railways: Both cabs, and the DB logos on the side, are covered with extra black and white stickers, often used in the car industry. But, on the sides the NVR numbers clearly tell us it is 91 80 6102 001-5 D-DB that we're looking at.

Picture by Peter Nohel, thanks!

Railvolution brings a package on wheels. This white covered rail vehicle is the first driving trailer for the German NIM Express. It is on its way from the Škoda Vagonka factory in Ostrava to the Škoda Transportation works in Plzeň for fitting out.

Skoda is building six trains consisting out of a 109E / DB 102 series locomotive + five intermediate cars and a driving trailer. The trains should have entered service on the Nurnberg - Ingolstadt - Munich route in December 2016, but their delivery is delayed by at least one year.

An article about the German railways and how it trying to improve the delivery processes of its new rolling stock.

In this article it is mentioned that the delivery of the rolling stock for the Nürnberg–Ingolstadt–München (NIM) Express, developbed by Škoda, is one year behind schedule.

Skoda Transportation's 109E locomotives have been granted an unrestricted approval for revenue service in Germany. The 109E is now officially homlogated for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Poland. The 109E also complies with TSI High Speed ​​RST.

Railcolor: Skoda's press statement gives us some nice details about the approval process, which was challenging according to Skoda's CEO, Tom Ignačák. The authorization process, as done by the Eisenbahn Budnesamt from Germany is described as complete and uncompromising. EBA's technical assessment goes down to the smallest detail.

Skoda states it has invested approximately 36 million euro (950 million CZK) in the development and homologation of its 109E multi system high speed locomotive platform. At this moment twenty units have been built for the Czech railways (CD). ZSSK from Slovakia owns two machines. Soon, the German railways (DB Regio in this case) will get six machines for its Nürnberg-Ingolstadt-München (NIM) high speed express. The importance of the German homologation is therefore evident.

DB Regio 109E

It is final now! Today, representatives of Škoda Transportation and the German railways (DB) signed the contract for the delivery of six trains. The volume of the order is 110 million euro. The new vehicles will be operated in southern Germany on the Nurnberg - Ingolstadt - Munich route, starting in December 2016.

Škoda Transportation will deliver six double deck compositions for push-pull services to DB Regio. A six-car set consists of one driving car, five intermediate cars and a 109E series locomotive (now also known as Emil Zátopek locomotives).

The maximum speed of the trains will be 189 kph. The sets are equipped with pressure-tight bodies which stabilize the pressure inside the cars when passing the high-speed vehicles (speed up to 300 km). Each set can accommodate up to 705 passengers. The trains will feature Wi-Fi, airconditioning and CCTV video security systems.

DB Regio Oberbayern is the winner of the public transport concession 'Ringzug West/NBS', awarded by the Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft (BEG). This concerns the München – Ingolstadt - (NBS) – Nürnberg, Augsburg – Treuchtlingen – Nürnberg and the Treuchtlingen – Ingolstadt – München branches.

Most interesting is the rolling stock that has been selected by DB Regio for their transport concept. Bombardier Twindexx Vario double stock coaches on the conventional lines. For the services that run over the NBS line ('Neubaustrecke' München – Ingolstadt – Nürnberg) Skoda 109E series and Skoda double deck coaches will be ordered.

Railcolor: For sure, it is not a coincidence that the Skoda 109E series locomotive was awarded with the certificate of conformity with TSI High Speed, very recently.

Update: The Skoda press statement about the order.

'Škoda Transportation will deliver 6 high-capacity train sets including 6 locomotives (109 E) to the German operator DB Regio. This locomotive has been recently awarded as the second in the world the European TSI High Speed RST certificate for 200 km/hour. The total value of the order is exceeding EUR 100 million.'

'(...) Škoda Transportation will deliver 6 six-vehicle two-floor train sets - each of which will comprise of 1 driving trailer, 5 intermediate coaches and a locomotive 109E - to DB Regio. These vehicles will be manufactured for the designed speed of 200 km/hour. The units will also have a pressure-tight bodyshell, which stabilizes the pressure inside the car when passing rail vehicles on high-speed lines, especially in tunnels and thus significantly increases the comfort of the passengers.' DB Regio 109E