Update: In four days, the Locomore long-distance trains will run again between Stuttgart and Berlin. Testing and driver training, now under the responsibility of the German department of Leo Express, has started:

Update 2: Hector Rail has published officially that the company will again be the traction provider for Leo Express passenger railway transportation operating between Berlin and Stuttgart.

"The commercial traffic is due to start 24th August. Initially the trains will run 4 round trips per week, Thursday afternoon to Monday morning.

Leo Express is responsible for the promotion of the trains and the marketing is supported by Flixbus. Flixbus is the biggest private coach operator in central Europe. Leo Express will provide the conductor and service staff and Hector Rail the locomotive and drivers."

FlixBus and LeoExpress make it possible: the resurrection of Locomore. This German start-up company introduced a privately operated, long-distance train service in December 2016, but had to file for insolvency after only five months of commercial operation. Read more on Railcolornews.com

Seen on 04.04.2017: MRCE > BTE ES64U2-036 with new stickers. Update: we added two close-ups, as the stickers are too small to read from a distance. Photos: Martin Voigt / Tobias Schmidt

The number of Alstom Coradia Continental trains that is available to the MitteldeutscheRegioBahn (MRB) is growing again. So only little time left to enjoy the exotic replacement trains. Some examples from the past days. Photos: Mario Lippert and Steffen Kliemann.

MRCE ES 64 U2-070 has lost its yellow and green GySEV Cargo livery. Instead it now has the MRCE hartbeat design, also applied on several ELL Vectron locomotive (-We love to connect-). Clearly, the 070 will now run for TX Logistik.

The recently restyled MRCE > TX Logistik ES 64 U2-072 was in charter service this weekend. The picture shows the locomotive with a party train from Norddeich Mole arriving at 00:30am at Köln Hauptbahnhof. Thank Martin Morkowsky.

A locomotive has caught fire in Kustein today! This is MRCE ES 64 U2-072 in its new, hot livery. The machine is operated by TX Logistik, which is clearly passionate about railfreight transport. During the weekend a second locomotive will be presented in this design: ES 64 F4-097. Image credits go to Henk Zwoferink.

As of 29.08.2016, HKX will no longer offer passenger services to Frankfurt. Not enough people make use of the train, so HKX has decided to stop and focus again on its core line: Hamburg - Cologne. The open access operator added the services connecting Köln and Frankfurt a/M to its timetable in December 2015.

As of 01.09.2016, HKX will introduce a new timetable, optimizing its services and meeting the demands of its customers better. Read about it here.

New: MRCE > BTE ES64U2-036 now promotes the science fiction movie 'Independence Day - Wiederkehr' (Resurgence). The machine will promote the movie while hauling hkx trains of course. - Maik Broicher/KAR

It is in the details! MRCE's ES 64 U2-034, now rented to BTE, just recently got an overhaul in Linz. The machine looks fresh again, got new stickers, but hey! Something is missing... on one side, the MRCE logo is not complete, no yellow rectangles... We see all ;) - Thanks Christian Topp

Back from a R2 overhaul (REC 07.03.2016) in the workshops of Linz: MRCE ES 64 U2-025. New is its livery, the machine still had its original Siemens Dispolok livery, but is now black, as most locomotives of its type nowadays. Like before its overhaul, the 025 is operated again by ERS Railways. (Marcel Langnickel)

MRCE ES 64 U2-036 with new stickers promoting the hkx services Hamburg - Frankfurt an Main. Picture by Timo Albert

Modern railways can be confusing. The locomotive's livery sayw WLC from Vienna, the coaches have the colors of DB Regio. Nevertheless, this is a National Express replacement train. Now with MRCE ES 64 U2-068, that replaced the black ES 64 U2-030. (Sven Jonas)

Lately, MRCE ES 64 U2-029 payed a visit to the workshops in Linz. The black locomotive with silver sides and TX Logistik logos has now returned with some fresh black paint. (Andreas Kepplinger)

Yesterday was the big day of change. Every year, the second Sunday of December is the day all railway operators introduce their new time tables. Since we have an open market in regional rail, this day can also be the day services on a certain routes or on complete networks are taken over by a new operator.

National Express Rail GmbH from Germany (subsidiary of National Express from the UK) is now running the trains on the lines RE7 (Rheine – Münster – Wuppertal – Cologne – Krefeld) and RB48 (Wuppertal Oberbarmen - Bonn Mehlem). For these lines, new Talent2 train sets are under delivery by Bombardier. However, for the timebeing National Express is using two replacement trains on the RB48 line.

The trains in use:
MRCE ES 64 U2-030 + 4x coaches in NX livery and one in DB livery
MRCE ES 64 U2-034 + 1x coaches in NX livery and four in DB livery
The title image shows the second train in Bornheim today

(Sven Jonas / KAR / Kevin Hornung)

- MRCE ES 64 U2-096 is in Linz for an overhaul and is repainted in black.

- GySEV 1116 061 had an overhaul, lost its GySEV logos and got a repaint in red. It is the first time ever this machine sports OBB word logos (!).

- SNCB is hiring 186 424-8 from Railpool as direct replacement for 186 181 (SNCB 2862) that was sent to Aachen for an overhaul. 186 424 lost its RTB Cargo / PCC stickers.

Okay, you can take MRCE ES 64 U2-021 off the list of WLC liveried locomotives too. This locomotive was seen last night with a new full promo lovery, identical to the one on MÁV 470 003. The only difference is that on this locomotive in the German language subtitles are bigger, and the Hungarian ones are smaller. (Csaba Bereczki)

The blue and ivory colours of WLC (formerly known as WLB) are getting rarer by the day. Next one to lay off its long worn WLC livery: ES 64 U2-066. WLC is moving over to Vectron.

What is left? We count one Vectron and 1216 950-952. Still going strong are ES 64 U2-020 and -068, but for how long? Two more are having the livery, but are pulling DB Fernverkehr's trains now: ES 64 U2-021 and -024.

Black (again) are: ES 64 U2-019, -022, -023, -027, -035, -060, -064 and -066.

Two recent additions to the fleet of DB Regio: MRCE ES 64 U2-098 and -099, the latter one still sporting its TX Logistik-logos. Both machines are now pulling RB20 passenger services around Erfurt until Abellio will take over in December. (Alex Huber)

Another locomotive that has been returned by WLC to MRCE. Now the all black ES 64 U2-027 runs for TX Logistik. (Tobias Schmidt)

Two months ago, we brought a list of future allocations of the the new Traxx AC2 locomotives for DB Regio and DB Fernverkehr:

146 251-256 > Frankfurt (Main)-Griesheim
146 257-264 > Erfurt
146 265-282 > Dortmund
146 551-577 > Leipzig Hbf

Based on the information of Eisenbahn Kurier 7/2015 we wrote that 146 257-264 would replace the hired MRCE ES 64 U2 electrics on the RB20 (Eisenach - Halle). However we think this will not happen anymore. The 146s mentioned are being delivered to Dortmund in stead of Erfurt. Around Erfurt, Abellio will take over many regional services from DB Regio in just a few months, so introducing a new series of locomotives (training etc) would not serve much purpose anymore.

BTW. The introduction of the DB Regio locomotives will result in various re-allocations of older DB Regio 146.0/1 series locomotives.

Lately we see many new Vectron locomotives, being hand over to freight operator WLC from Austria. This means U2 locomotives are leaving the operator. One of them is ES 64 U2-035, that was the only loco what a darker WLC livery with Kuhne+Nagel logos. This is gone now, the machine now presents itself in standard MRCE black. (René Klink)

New in the fleet of DB Fernverkehr: MRCE ES64U2-021 and -024. Remarkable: Both machines still have their WLC livery. An image made today (Tobias Brüggemann):

The ES 64 U2 enters Slovakia. Remarkable as getting this locomotive approved for the Slovakian railway network seemed to be a never ending story. But, in service of LTE, MRCE ES 64 U2-074 crossed the border, with three more locomotives in its slip stream: 744 001, 740 541 and EuroRunner 2016 904. The train ran from Burghausen (DE) to Žiar nad Hronom (SK). (Peter Melicher / Martin Lobotka)

Update: The permit to run in Slovakia is a temporary one, valid until [edit] 15.06.2016. It concerns locomotives ES 64 U2-061, 073 and 074. (railvolution.net)

Our first images of MRCE ES 64 U2-022 in its new black livery. (Thomas Wohlfarth)

Some weeks ago it lost its WLC stickers, and it was seen in its old yellow/silver Dispolok livery again. Now it is back, ES 64 U2-019 is back. - JM MRCE ES64U2

New images have arrived of the MRCE>TX Logistik ES 64 U2-060:

Fresh! This afternoon MRCE ES 64 U2-060, in its new 'Mauer' livery, was portrayed in Gramatneusiedl (AT) pulling the four MRCE Vectron locomotives that recently visited Hungary for approval: X4E -873, -874, -876 and -879. - HP

One would almost forget they were still yellow and silver. For about 10 year, MRCE ES 64 U2-019 and -022 have sported the WLC livery. Most of it was just stickers. Only the frame ends were painted in ivory white. Now they are on their way to Germany. We are curious what will happen to them now.

PS. Who knows if the 080 has new stickers, or was it repainted? - NT MRCE ES64U2

Impressions from yesterday, when a successful testrun was made with MRCE ES 64 U2-034.

MRCE ES64U2

But, when you remove the all-over stickers, you get a colorful combination of liveries. Today we got this picture of ES 64 U2-064. Previously, this machine had the WLC livery. When you remove it, it is silver, yellow, ivory and black.

But not for long, the machine is on its way to Dessau, for a proper repaint. MRCE ES64U2

MRCE ES64U2

ES 64 U2-011 > Dispolok livery, TX Logistik / ARS Altmann logos
ES 64 U2-025 > Dispolok livery, no logos
ES 64 U2-095 > Dispolok livery, no logos
ES 64 U2-096 > Dispolok livery, IBS promotion

ES 64 U2-025 sported boxXpress logos for a very long time, but now they are now gone. The end of the Dispolok livery with boxXpress logos, which always made a very nice combination.

More information about these trains:

MRCE ES64U2

More information about these trains:

MRCE ES64U2

Jürgen Steinhoff / Dieter Römhild

More information about these trains:

MRCE ES64U2

More information about these trains:

MRCE ES64U2

DB Regio offers this new Interregio Express since yesterday. It has to be a cheaper alternative to the IC/ICE services on this route. Its introduction is DB's response to the growing competition by long distance bus operators ('Fernbusse'), that have fares far lower than the normal train services. A single trip with the IRE costs 19,90 euro (29,90 for a round trip), price below that of the bus tickets. The single trip takes more than 3 hours.

For comparison: A normal ticket for ICE Berlin - Hamburg costs 78 euro / 156 euro. The ICE is however considerably faster: 1 hour 45 minutes. Rolling stock used for the IRE trains are Bimz 546.8 coaches, that have no airconditioning. MRCE ES64U2

Until a sufficient number of sets are available, other operators from Germany and Austria help Veolia Verkehr Regio GmbH by lending out their rolling stock. Locomotives and CityShuttle coaches come from the ÖBB, a rake of metronom double deck coaches came from the north.

Also three MRCE locomotives are being used to haul the replacement trains: ES 64 U2-009, -067 and -096. The images show two of these machines with the metronom coaches. - MR MRCE ES64U2

The image shows the 013 with RE 16199 from Jena-Göschwitz in Erfurt Hauptbahnhof. - FT MRCE ES64U2

There are not so many ES 64 U2s left, that still sport their original Siemens Dispolok livery. We count only six: ES 64 U2-007, 011, 015, 025, 095, and 096. Some machines running for WLC may still have yellow and silver paint under the WLC vinyls. The same for several units running for CargoServ. - AK

Locomotive ES 64 U2-008 was repainted this year, but did not get MRCE logos. Then came the boxXpress stickers. Yet this month, the MRCE logos and silver stripe were applied. The strip now goes over the boxXpress stickers. - MV

Locomotive ES 64 U2-010 and 015 also got new black paint this year. For the front number, the wrong font size is used. The numbers are too big. MRCE ES64U2

The yellow and silver locomotive, already hired to DB Systemtechnik at that time, arrived at the workshops of Dessau in September 2013, and got a repaint in red. Its new service number is DB 182 506.

V2 subtype (DE+AT): ES 64 U2-010, 011, 012, 019 to 024, 027, 029 and 035
V7 subtype (DE+AT+HU): ES 64 U2-060 to 074
V9 subtype (DE+AT with radio control): ES 64 U2-080 to 082

source: MRCE MRCE ES64U2

Siemens has equipped 30 type ES64U2 locomotives belonging to locomotive leasing company MRCE with the European Train Control System (ETCS). The specific system fitted was the Siemens ETCS Trainguard 200 on-board unit. Efforts to gain approval in the intended countries of deployment – Germany, Austria and Hungary – proceeded in parallel with the modification work and the locomotives have been approved for operation in these countries with and without ETCS enabled since the middle of June. The locomotives were retrofitted and commissioned at the Munich-Allach locomotive works.

Siemens received the order from locomotive leasing company MRCE to fit 30 type ES64U2 locomotives with the Trainguard 200 ETCS on-board equipment at the beginning of April 2011.

Railcolor: ES 64 U2-067 is the locomotive with the train guard stickers. This approval is crucial for the 'Bosporus' version of the ES 64 U2 electrics of MRCE. Without ETCS approval for Austria, vital parts of the main freight corridor in the country, going to Eastern Europe, would become inaccessible for MRCE locomotives. That would have serious consequences for many operators. MRCE ES64U2

Friday next week, Hector Rail will get two more ES 64 U2 locomotives delivered from MRCE: ES 64 U2-002 and 004 will be handed over to the Swedish operator. The future 242.502 will get the name 'Zurg', unit 504 will be 'Mr Potato Head'. One of these machines will go to Sweden, one will stay in Germany. 242.516 will transfer to Sweden. - Hector Rail / PT

With these machines, Hector Rail will own seven such machines. Yesterday, Hector Rail published the news about its purchase of 42 passenger coaches from the Netherlands. It is clear, Hector Rail widens its scope. The operator from Sweden is predominantly active in freight traffic, but also provides traction for Veolia passenger trains in Sweden. Now it takes this last activity one step further:

Hector Rail buys 42 passenger coaches for 200 km/h: Since 2007 Hector Rail provides traction for passenger trains in Sweden. Hector Rail has in recent years invested in seven locomotives approved for up to 230 km/h. More and more service providers are exploring opportunities in the fully liberalized Swedish rail passenger market. Hector Rail has decided to extend its offering from traction only to whole train sets approved for 200 km/h. Used coaches purchased in Holland can be upgraded according to a service provider’s requirements.

Hector Rail will not enter the rail passenger market itself. The intention is to offer a complete train system to a service provider who is interested in not only creating a cost-effective, but also a fast and comfortable travel market offering. The technical standard and interior can be adapted on the targeted passenger market segments.

Railcolor: The coaches mentioned must be the former Bm235's of the German railways. From 2001 until 2009 they were used as type ICK by the Dutch railways, at that moment suffering from rolling stock shortage. For this purpose 150 coaches were bought and rebuilt. Most of these coaches are currently parked at Nijmegen (NL).

MWB 1116 911 and 912, MRCE Dispolok/TXL ES 64 U2-011 and 029, and HUPAC/Raildox ES 64 U2-100 are called in at Berlin-Grünau, as shown on the pictures. - SC/Stadler Rail Hupac ES 64 U2 MRCE ES64U2 MWB 182

Now, the hkx will adjust its pricing to the actual usage of the train. This means that the very last tickets of a train will get more expensive, and the further you book in advance of your trip, the cheaper the ticket. hkx now wants to invest in the relation with its new customers, hoping that it will be a loyal one.

Of course we got many images of the ES 64 U2s in service of the hkx. A selection:

MRCE ES64U2

BTW Elektrolok.de brings more images from Linz. GySEV 470 InRail 190 MRCE ES64U2 SZ 541

Normally, 109 series locomotives from the Georg Verkehrsorganisation (GVG) are being used for this train, but they are all out of order at this moment. The often unused ES 64 U2 locomotive (004 > 030 > 026 > 036) hired by Veolia/OLA for hkx training, is therefore called in as substitute. They haul this EN from Berlin to Sassnitz. - SC MRCE ES64U2

Before the end of 2012, Siemens will equips thirty ES64U2 locomotives of the leasing company Mitsui Rail Capital Europe B.V. (MRCE) with the ATP/ATC system Trainguard 200 (ETCS level 2). The vehicles are to be operated on the Brenner line between Innsbruck and Bozen. - MRCE

Railcolor: ETCS will be obligatory for this section. MRCE needs its 'Bosporus' Sprinters therefore equipped with ETCS, so they will stay fully homologated for Austria. MRCE ES64U2

For only two months, ES64U2-019 was operated by EBG. At the end of 2002 the EBG, like the WAB property of L.Guttwein, was responsible for hauling the night services between Berlijn and Malmo, operated by GVG Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH. The EBG therefore rented a ES 64 U2 locomotive. Before the 019 with EBG logos arrived, the ES64U2 005 (leased from Rail4Chem) was used to haul the night trains. Per 11.2002 the contract between GVG and EBG ended and GVG decided to haul the trains themselves and therefore bought some used locos (former DB Baureihe 109) from Bombardier.

At that time, the 019 had the standard Dispolok design. The 019 was the last Dispolok ES 64 U2 with a old-style LZB-number (1116 719). Also it was the first Dispolok locomotive that no longer carried the brand-name KraussMaffei. MRCE ES64U2

On 15.12.2002 the German Railways decided, despite many protests, to terminate all InterRegio services. Some were upgraded to InterCity or even ICE services, but many were simply deleted. This offered new opportunities for open access operators. The Norddeutsche Nahverkehrsgesellschaft (NNVG) for example founded Flex AG, that started the Flensburg Express (FLEX) on the Flensburg-Hamburg connection.

Services started on 15.12.2002. FLEX hired five Dispolok locomotives (ES 64 U2-019, -021, -023, -098 and -099) and bought several InterRegio coaches from the DB. These were modernized and repainted in the orange/grey FLEX-livery. Locomotive ES 64 U2-099 served as spare.

But it did not last long. On 12.08.2003, FLEX AG went bankrupt. In September the Nord-Ostsee-Bahn (NOB) took over the service, renamed as Flensburg Express. In September-December 2003, all Dispolok locomotives were returned to Siemens. They were replaced by Connex locomotives 185 515 and 516 and Dispolok 1116 063 and 064.Before these locos arrived a lot of other units helped out on the Flensburg Express. The KEG was there to assist the with the ES64U2 025 and also the ES64U2 080 in CargoServ design was used. In March 2004 the new ES 64 U2-034 and -035 replaced 1116 063 and 064.

On 11.12.2005, the DB took over again with the Schleswig-Holstein-Express (SCHLEX). MRCE ES64U2

They are assisted by four ES 64 U2s now, as no. -018 has joined. This engine is still yellow and silver. MRCE ES64F4 MRCE ES64U2

In the first days we only saw ES 64 F4-843 and -844 in service, now the -842 has joined. MRCE ES64U2

Last week Hector Rail published the news that it has been contracted by Veolia to haul their Stockholm and Malmö-services (and some special trains winter resort areas in Northern Sweden) for the next five years. Hector Rail also states that it will provide locomotives with a vmax of 200 kph from this fall.

Hector Rail owns two types of locomotives that could deliver, when adjusted and approved; the 141 series (ex OBB 1012) and the recently purchased ES 64 U2s (soon to be the new 242 series). Three 242s will be available for the Veolia contract. The current status, afawk:

ES 64 U2-031 > running in Germany as 182.531 'LaMotta', repainted with high-performance text
ES 64 U2-003 > in Linz, Austria for overhaul and refitting, repainted in April 2011
ES 64 U2-016 > running in Germany als 242.516 'Ferdinand', repainted, no high-performance text
ES 64 U2-017 > since 05.05.2011 property of Hector Rail, running for Hector Rail, black livery
ES 64 U2-032 > to be purchased (planned)

More recent information is always welcome. Hector Rail 242 MRCE ES64U2

Other news: Designers are working on a new logo for the leasing company. This is why some recently repainted units have no logos anymore. MRCE ES64F4 MRCE ES64U2

ER 20-005, -008, -009, -013 and -014
ES 64 U2-026 and -067
ES 64 F4-006 (VH), -010 (VD), -021 (VD), -028 (VK), -029 (VI, no service numbers), -033 (VK), -094 (VE) and -098 (VE)
189 090, 092, 093, 094, and 095 (all VJ). 189 093-095 now have a Veolia-livery
If there are any more, please let us know!

MRCE ER 20 MRCE ES64F4 MRCE ES64U2

MRCE ES64U2

Today however, for the first time an MRCE ES64U2 electric and two MRCE ER20 diesel-electric locomotives had their roll-out in black, in Berlin, where all machines are repainted by German company Dangelmayer. All three machines are exaclty painted as described above. For the ES64U2 machine (built for 15kV and 25kV AC voltage systems only) this is quite remarkable as this type is not able to run in the Netherlands (1,5kV DC) nor in Italy (3kV DC). Still it has white and red front-ends. MRCE is therefore very strict when it comes down to applying the corporate identity, but maybe also wants to show that it is ready for the future, where new 25kV AC-only corridors will be available all over Europe.

The machines that left Berlin today with the new MRCE look are ES64U2 026 and ER20 005 and 008. The latter one was immediately rented out to IGE Bahntouristik, and used for commercial services on the very same day. It replaces ER20 013 by IGE, which is now to Berlin for blackening. Also ES64U2 067 has arrived in Berlin.

In the next months we will try to keep up with the changes concerning the ambitious MRCE repainting plan, and with drawings we will visualize the consequences for the machines. As many ES64U2 carry customer specific logos, promotional adhesives or even complete liveries, it will be interesting how this will be combined with the new black trend. - DSO/Bahnforum/SS MRCE ER 20 MRCE ES64U2

Mitsui Rail Capital Europe B.V. in Amsterdam (MRCE) and Dispolok GmbH in Munich (Dispolok) will take an important step in integrating their locomotive leasing operations as of April 1, 2008.

MRCE successfully established in October 2004 as a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) for locomotive leasing operation in Europe, and Dispolok, acquired by Mitsui in October 2006, will integrate their operations to create one of the largest European locomotive operating lessors and service providers with more than 200 locomotives already delivered to customers in more than 10 countries in Europe.

The integration will comprise a transfer of all leasing operations to Munich, which will be renamed MRCE Dispolok GmbH (MRCE Dispolok), and a concentration of all corporate operations in Amsterdam, which will continue to carry the name of Mitsui Rail Capital Europe B.V. All day-to-day locomotive lease operations including sales & marketing, fleet management, logistics management and service & maintenance management for the entire fleet of MRCE and MRCE Dispolok will be centralized in Munich, while the marketing and technology strategy & development, business administration, financing and budgeting, locomotive procurement and ownership will be homed in Amsterdam. Current MRCE sales staff will be operationally assigned to MRCE Dispolok but physically remain in Amsterdam to be closer to core customers in North & Western Europe. All shares of Mitsui in Dispolok will be transferred to MRCE. A new corporate identity and logo design will be introduced including the unification of the entire fleet to a black color scheme.

This integration is to combine the industrial and financial strength of MRCE and Dispolok and to establish the basis for further expansion and diversification.􃧹r. Miki, the current CEO of MRCE and future Managing Director, Group CEO of MRCE explained: “The integration will be mainly driven by using best the existing expertise and capabilities at the actual locations and we have not been chasing a holding structure but more a vertical concentration into corporate and market functions”. Mr. Stahl, the current President and COO of MRCE and future Managing Director, Group Marketing & Strategy of MRCE outlined: “This will be to combine the strength of both while eliminating weakness. We think to have created an organization which by operations has an unparalleled depth of know-how and functions in this specific market and commit to spearhead market development to all aspects in favor of our business partners”. Dr. Breinl, the current COO of Dispolok and future Chief Officer, Group Technology, Development of MRCE added;” We are leading ETCS development having invested in a very promising and future oriented design and configuration for our fleet and have started to look into a different design of locomotives”.

For the near future, MRCE will focus on the European Rail new development by supporting and assisting privately and nationally held railways to regain transportation market shares, while endeavoring to protect the environment, as well as to improve the efficiency of the supply of goods to meet the growing demands of the society. In close cooperation with Mitsui, MRCE is planning to diversify into various new business segments related to rail freight transportation.

We value your patronage and believe that this new and more focused structure will broaden and strengthen our ability to be of service for you. We want to be on your side wherever you need us. - MRCE ex MThB/SBB Cargo series MRCE 185.2 MRCE ER 20 MRCE ES64F4 MRCE ES64U2 MRCE Re484 MRCE Traxx AC1