On 08.11.2006, the Spanish national rail operator Renfe placed an order with Bombardier for 100 TRAXX DC locomotives, to be operated by its freight division, Renfe Mercancias. 55 units were built by Bombardier at its site in Vado Ligure, Italy. The other 45 locomotives were assembled in Villaverde, near Madrid, using kits supplied by various Bombardier production sites. Originally, it was planned to built the first 10 units in Kassel, but this plan was changed.
All 100 machines were built and delivered in 2008-2010. Coming from Wroclaw in Poland, the body of 253 001 arrived at Vado Ligure in July 2007. Customer specific modifications that Bombardier had to make for this order were: Adjust the locomotive bogies for 1668 mm Iberian track gauge, install a new type of integrated auxiliary converters and add powerful airconditioning equipment (visible on the cabin rooftops).
Renfe S/253: news
2009-10-24
[ES] Renfe S/253 production
update 2009|10|24
[ES] Renfe S/253 production
This image tells us that the production of Renfe S/253s is going really well, more than half way now.
2009-10-03
[IT/ES] TRAXX DC production, a complete overview
update 2009|10|03
[IT/ES] TRAXX DC production, a complete overview
During the past months, Bombardier in Vado Ligure has outshopped Traxx DC electrics for various Italian rail operators. Now, for all customers known, units have been spotted during test runs. Therefore it's time for a quick overview:
Autorità Portuale di Savona (AP) ordered two units in April 2008. In September they were spotted around Arenzano. The designated E 483.021 and 022 are both painted in white.
Ferrovie Emilia Romagna (FER) from Bologna ordered four units in March 2008. All four have been spotted up till now, they are also painted white and numbered as E 483.023, 024, 025 and 026.
Bombardier is also delivering three units to General Transport Service (GTS). E 483.051, 052 and 053 are painted black. A picture was found last week.
Other Traxx DC series: for leasy company Angel Trains Cargo, Bombardier has built twenty DC units, the designated E 483.001-020. The ten units of the first batch are being operated by Rail Traction Company (RTC), Nordcargo and DB Schenker. Unit 11-20 are not in service as far as we know and stored around Vado Ligure. Nordcargo also purchased eight Traxx DC units; E 483.101-108 were all delivered this year and are in service right now, being used for both Nordcargo and DB Schenker services.
Then there is still the Spanish branch of the family. Renfe is recieving 100 units, designated 253 001-100, partly built in Vado Ligure, partly built in Madrid. Delivery should be half way.
Last but not least, operator Comsa from Spain also ordered three 253s. However we have not found any sign yet of these machines being completed. Anyone has?
2009-05-23
[ES] update on S/253s
update 2009|05|23
[ES] update on S/253s
In the mean time, Renfe S/253 series is fit for revenue services. In January and February the first batch of machines was officially delivered to Renfe. A search on Flickr learns us that 253 022 is already finished, so batch production is going well. Visitors of this site noticed that the head light configuration of these machines is changed since the first couple of units were outshopped. The separate red and white head lights have been replaced by two duo-colour lamps, take a look at the pictures the compare both versions. We can also report on the fact that 253 001-005 are fitted with the Spanish ASFA analogue signalling system, and that from 006 on, this system is replaced by ASFA digital. - PC
P.S. If anyone can give us more up to date information about the 253s from Spain, please let us know!
2009-01-21
[ES] Renfe S/253 in revenue service
update 2009|01|21
[ES] Renfe S/253 in revenue service
Per 20.01.2009, the first five Renfe
S/253 locomotives are homologated and are in revenue service. All these machines come from the Italian production line of DC Traxx locomotives. 253 011 is the first unit to be assembled in Spain. Some more images. - PC
2008-05-21
[ES] Renfe S/253 on the move
update 2008|05|21
[ES] Renfe S/253 on the move
A nice video also featuring the latest Traxx locomotive in Spain:
2008-05-10
[ES] report on the Renfe S/253 trials
update 2008|05|10
[ES] report on the Renfe S/253 trials
Since the last days of April 2008, both S/253 001 and 002, the very first Bombardier Traxx locomotives built for the Spanish Renfe, are doing verious trial runs. 253 001 is therefore used for dynamic tracforce measurements, for which it is now running at the Pajeres mountain pass. Together with three passenger coaches, of which one serves as mobile laboratory and a S/252 series machine it runs up and down the mountain slopes. In the forum several interesting pictures are shown of these trails, which now are present ed here:
2008-04-02
[ES] first Spanish Traxx DC officially presented
update 2008|04|02
[ES] first Spanish Traxx DC officially presented
For whomever wants to practise his or her Spanish; today an article was published about the official presentation (and some background information) of Renfe's S253 001, the very first of 100 Traxx2E F140DC locomotives, which had its roll-out at the Villaverde works near Madrid.
At the end of November 2007 the S/253 001 was completed and ready for its first dynamic trials. It was transported by road trailer to Siemens test centre Wegberg-Wildenrath in Germany, where two 1435 mm normal gauge bogies were already waiting for the machine. With the cranes it was placed on its temporary feet and throughout December the S/253 001 was running in the various test tracks. On 29.11.2007 also S/253 002 left the factories in Vado Ligure, with destination Villaverde, Spain. In Villaverde this machine will be the first one that will be placed on actual 1668 mm wide gauge bogies. Starting in May 2008, 253 001 and 002 were subjected to numerous trials in Spain, concentrating around Madrid. It is expected that the first S/253 will be officially handed over to Renfe by the end of September 2008.
During the test runs at Wegberg one could take a good look at the details of the Spanish Traxx machine for the first time. Its two central head lights are placed above the front windows and on top of the cabs extra powerful air conditioning equipment is available to cope with hot weather circumstances in Spain. Remarkable is that the frame at both cabin ends is repainted black again, although the first pictures from the factory in Italy show two all white painted cabs. The S/253 series also misses some features indicating it’s a Traxx 2E generation machine. Its sidewalls are smooth, no edges indicating where a ventilation grid could be and also the opening for a fuel tank is not there. These alterations where partly neccessary to meet the specific demands of Renfe and to be able to cope with the special wather conditions on the Iberic peninsula. On the other hand, such a large order volume makes it more easy to moderate a standard platform.
S/253 001 hoovers over the assembly area in Vado Ligure, July 2007. Note that the body has all white painted cabs.
Renfe Mercancias S/253: Production and delivery
Batch production of the S/253 series started in March 2008. 55 machines were built in Vado Ligure, Italy, to be placed on their 1668 mm bogies when entering Spain. The remaining 45 machines will be sent to Villaverde Bojo as kits, of which the parts will come from various Bombardier factories from all over Europe.
On 20.01.2009, the first five units (253 001-005) were officially handed over to Renfe. 253 011 was the first locomotive to be completed in Spain. In July 2010 the handing over of the very last locomotive will take place. 253 100 will be a unit from the Spanish assembly line.
Alstom
