On very short notice, Hector Rail will take over the freight services of the so-called "Trätågs-concept" from Rush Rail, which has become financially insolvent. Hector Rail has signed an agreement with Trätåg AB for this contract.

The 5-year contract covers the transport of 2.5 million cubic meters of round wood from various timber terminals (such as Lomsmyren in Mora, Vansbro and Ljusdalto) to several mills in central Sweden (for example Kvarnsveden in Borlänge, Skutskär and Gruvön in Grums). Hector Rail expects to have the services up and running before Christmas.

Hector Rail states it will use new locomotives for the Trätåg contract in the future. Locomotives that 'can operate without catenary at the terminals' and 'can be remote controlled'. Hector Rail currently has Siemens Vectron locomotives on order with these capabilities.

It is over for Rush Rail. A three month period, during which the Swedish company was trying to re-organize without filing for bankruptcy, has ended without success. Rush Rail wanted more time, but the Swedish court did not allow this. The freight operator could not hand-over enough detailed measurements, justifying a extension of the restructuring period.

Consequentially, Rush Rail officially filed for bankruptcy in Stockholm today. The company had a debt of 7 million euro, was loosing most of its services and it was facing a legal dispute with Bure, the owner of the seven TRAXX locomotives Rush Rail was using (of which one is out of service). The employees were already being paid by the Swedish government.

The first five units are in Sweden, check this line-up! Sneezy was in the Bombardier garden in Kassel last week, 415 was last seen there a week before. RushRail 185

The transaction
Bure has entered into agreements to invest in the rail freight market. The investment amounts to approximately SEK 245 million, divided between two separate transactions.
Through a private placement, Bure will invest, SEK 20 million in RushRail and receive an equity stake of 30 percent. Bure is investing approximately SEK 225 million for the acquisition of state-of-the-art and energy-efficient electrical TRAXX locomotives from Bombardier. The locomotives will be subleased to RushRail to enable their commitment in freight transport. According to plan, the locomotives will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2012.

RushRail in short
RushRail is a railway company and a train operator approved by the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen). The company was founded in the mid 2000s but started its train operator business at the end of 2010. Since 2010, RushRail has delivered rail transport services to Intercontainer Scandinavia AB and Infranord AB. In April, RushRail won a multi-year transport contract from Trätåg AB. Trätåg AB is a logistics company owned by Stora Enso and Korsnäs. Its purpose is to handle rail transport of forest produce, timber, pulpwood and biofuel. In an efficient and environmentally friendly manner RushRail will provide rail transport, transport of timber and other forest produce from Stora Enso and Korsnäs’s timber terminals to their production sites throughout central Sweden. The contract is one of the largest of its kind in Sweden with a total value of over SEK 700 million. The contract is set to commence at the beginning of 2013. RushRail has approximately 45 employees and an annual turnover of around SEK 90 million, excluding the Trätåg contract. For more information, visit www.rushrail.se and www.tratag.se.

The complete press statement here and via mb.cision.com/Main/632/9257214/11153.pdf.

Railcolor: As we are facing a rather quiet period in the European locomotive factories, manufacturers can deliver fast. First locomotives for Rushrail will be ready within 5-7 months! SEK 225 million equals around 25 million euro. Without large maintenance contracts you are talking about [edit] 7 locomotives. Looking at the short delivery time, we are probably talking about Traxx F140 AC2 units here.
As stated, Rushrail is not new. Check this class66 locomotive (T66405), maybe giving away a hint about the future colors of the new Traxx locomotives. RushRail 185