The title picture shows the first of thirteen locomotives for this operator, which has 13 units on order. The second image gives us a peek inside the assembly hall of Siemens in Munich with, amongst others, unit BMACC 005 and 007 under construction. BMACC 001 started its journey to 'down-under' on 30.04.2013. That day is was dispatched to Bremerhaven port. - Siemens/Railvolution

Railcolor: The livery on BMA locomotives is applied according to the artist impression, released in 2012. The numbering of the locomotives is different from what was being proposed back then. In stead of 8800 series numbers, the designations BMACC 001-013 will be applied.

Today the company announced that it has been awarded a contract to supply thirteen heavy-haul electric locomotives to the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). Delivery of the first 1067mm-gauge 25kV unit is scheduled for late 2013.

With the new machines, BMA will operate its own trains on the QR National network, starting in 2014. They will run from BMA's coal mines at Caval Ridge and Daunia in the Bowen Basin to the Hay Point export terminal.

In the past years, Siemens has already been building 77 similar locomotives to other customers on the Australian continent. An overview:

2008-2010: 45 units, 3800 series, to Queensland Rail
2009-2011: 32 units, 7100 series, to Pacific National

Something else, I hope BMA knows what locomotives with service number 8888, can do...