On December 11, the 2017 timetable came into force in Germany. With every new timetable, numerous changes occur, such as a change of operator for the Netz West concession in Schleswig-Holstein this year. Part of this concession are the regional trains between Hamburg-Altona and Westerland (Sylt), which have been operated by Nord-Ostsee-Bahn (NOB) since late 2005.

With effect from December 11, DB Regio is the new concession holder. As rolling stock ownership has been separated from the operating contract, DB Regio now also operates the 15 TRAXX DE Multi Engine locomotives (245 201-215). Addtionally, DB Regio hires three EuroRunner locomotives leased from Beacon Rail Leasing. It concerns ER 20-011 and 012, which were also operated by NOB at the time of the timetable change, and the blue ER 20-001, which replaces the 014.

Hired by DB Regio, Beacon Rail ER 20-001 arrives at Westerland (Sylt) with a rake of National Express replacement coaches on December 11, 2016. Picture by Nahne Johannsen.

Not an everyday sight: NOB 245 208-4 and DB Regio passenger coaches passing Keitum (Sylt) on November 11, 2016. Picture by Nahne Johannsen.

Normally, Nord-Ostsee-Bahn (NOB) operates its passenger service between Hamburg-Altona and Westerland (Sylt) with Bombardier TRAXX DE Multi Engine locomotives and married-pair passenger coaches in push-pull formation. However, NOB now has to miss almost its entire fleet of passenger stock as its 90 married-pair coaches have been sidelined for inspection after a coupling broke on one of the wagon sets. Replacement stock has been made available with the help of DB Regio for NOB line 62 and buses have been hired in to operate replacement services on NOB line 6.

NOB 245 202-7 awaits departure from Westerland (Sylt) with a set of DB Regio passenger coaches and an unidentified Class 245 locomotive on the back on November 12, 2016. Picture by Nahne Johannsen.

Bad news from North Germany. In a press release, Nord-Ostsee-Bahn (NOB) announces that due to technical problems with its TRAXX Multi Engine locomotives, delays and cancelled trains can be expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, the operator is working hard in conjunction with Bombardier to introduce not only a technical solution for the locomotives, but also to ensure the service between Hamburg-Altona and Westerland (Sylt) keeps running as good as possible.

It has been indicated that the locomotives tend to overheat due to unsufficient cooling capability. Currently, all locomotives are being monitored closely to be able to take measures if temperatures get too high to continue operations. It is unclear whether these problems also apply for DB Fernverkehr and DB Regio Class 245 locomotives or not.

Recently, NAH.SH 245 213-4's front panel has been repaired. The loco looks a bit different now as it service numbers has not been applied again. Martin Priebs

With the arrival of the repaired 245 204, Paribus > NAH.sh now has all fifteen TRAXX DE Multi Engine locomotive available for its Sylt services, performed by operator NOB (the designated 245 201-215).

Also new: DB Fernverkehr still awaits the delivery of five more TRAXX DE Multi Engine locomotives for its car shuttles to Sylt. Starting in March, Bombardier will deliver one machine per month, so the series of seven will be complete in July. BTW, we have already seen 245 023 around Kassel.

On 11.11.2015, the brand new Paribus > NAH.SH 245 204-3 caught fire in active duty. The machine had to be taken out of service and was sent back to Kassel for repairs. Today the machine was sent out again by Bombardier, again ready for duty. (Christian Klotz)

In service and with NOB logos now: 245 214-2. (Jens Vollertsen)

Today (November 30) three TRAXX Multi Engine locomotive could be seen leaving the Bombardier works in Kassel: 245 205-0, 245 214-2 and 245 215-9. (Christian Klotz)

On November 10, 245 215-9 left the Bombardier works in Kassel to make its maiden run. It appears that one day earlier, 245 214-2 did the same. On November 19, also 245 209-2 made its maiden run, so we can expect delivery of the locomotives soon. Note that with the delivery of these three locomotives, the batch of 15 will be complete. (Christian Klotz)

Today, a brand new Paribus>NAH.SH Multi-Engine TRAXX caught fire at Itzehoe: 245 204-3. After the fire department cleared the scene, the locomotive and its train were towed away by 245 211-8 and 245 212-6, which were delivered by Bombardier to Paribus today.

(Hans Isernhagen / Andreas Melchert / Martin Priebs)

(Christian Klotz)

...but not at the same time. Yesterday, Paribus>NAH.SH 245 210-0 completed its maiden run and today it was 245 211-8's turn to do the same (see images). (Christian Klotz)

In the past couple of days, six new Traxx DE ME locomotives were transferred up north in pairs:
26.10.2015: 245 202 + 204
27.10.2015: 245 205 + 206
28.10.2015: 245 207 + 208

Interestingly, when 245 205 and 206 were on their way to Husum, they were used to help out a defective IC which had stranded between Hannover and Göttingen.

(Christian Klotz/Brian Garvin)

Today, the brand new Paribus 245 208-4 showed itself outside the Bombardier works for its maiden run. (Christian Klotz)

These images are from 30.07.2015, not from 06.10.2015. Sorry for the confusion. Nevertheless they show Paribus 245 202 together with 205 in Kassel. From what we know, unit 245 202 is outshopped after 245 203 and 204 because its body was damaged during transport by truck from Poland to Kassel. (Christian Klotz)

After having been evaluated in Denmark and Sweden by Hector Rail, TRAXX Multi Engine locomotive 245 204-3 arrived back in Kassel today. (Christian Klotz)

A long long way from home. Future Paribus/NAH.SH locomotive 245 204 is currently on trial on the Hotingrailway in Sweden. The machine runs from Forsmo to Hoting vv.

Earlier the Multi Engine locomotive was also tested in combination with Hector Rail's class 241 Traxx AC2 electrics. An interesting image report of the tests in Sweden can be found on DSO (link).

Hector Rail has not only evaluated the performance of Traxx Multi Engine locomotive 245 204-3 in combination with Traxx AC2 locomotives with the latter acting as driving trailers. The company has also used the machine to pull freight trains on its own, as the image above by Peter Frost shows.

(Peter Frost)

According to various sources, Bombardier's customer Hector Rail wants to know if the operator can successfully use a Traxx DE ME locomotive in mixed traction with its Class 241 series electrics. Now a vital part of the Danish network north of Padborg is temporarily without catenary, there is an excellent opportunity to test this.

On the sections without overhead power, 245 204 is used to pull the freight trains while being controlled from the Class 241 Traxx AC2 in front of it. Various impressions of the Multi Engine Traxx during combined operations can be found here and here.

The Hector Rail 241 in these images is technically used as driving trailer. Its pantographs are down and locked. The main switch is off. Tractive effort comes 100% from the NAH.SH 245 204 with is controlled from the cabin of the 241. So, there is no driver in the cab of the diesel locomotive.

Although unconfirmed, it has been indicated that after testing in Denmark has been completed 245 204 will also pay Sweden a visit.

(Martin Drube / Martin Greiner)

This morning, Hector Rail 241.005 arrived in Kassel Rangierbahnhof to pick a locomotive in complementary colours: Paribus 245 204 for NAH.SH. (Christian Klotz)

The route of these machines: Krefeld - Dortmund - Rostock - Trelleborg - Malmö. According to various sources, Bombardier's customer Hector Rail wants to know if the operator can successfully use a Traxx DE ME locomotive in mixed traction with its 241 series electrics. This, because a vital part of the Danish network is temporarily without catenary.

Paribus>NAH.SH 245 201 is currently a long way from home. It came all the way down from Schlesweg-Holstein to Frankfurt for software tests.

The images show NAH.SH 245 201 and 245 203 on both sides of Metronom double deck driving trailer at the EVB depot in Bremervörde. -AK

Locomotive 245 203 is the second of its series to be released from factory. On 10.03.2015, it completed its maiden run, on 13.03.2015 it ran to Bremervörde.

On March 5, NAH.SH 245 201-9 and DB Regio 245 001 could be seen heading for Bremervörde, while sandwiching a Metronom driving trailer. Similar to the combination of 245 201 and 146 553 last week, this composition will be used for testing the new "Zugwendesteuerung" (push-pull control system). - PMR

On 19.02.2015, Bombardier and NAH.SH officially presented their first diesel locomotive for the Marschbahn. The images show the 245 201 during the handing over ceremony. - Bombardier

Meanwhile, Bombardier has started series production for this customer. 245 203 was seen in Kassel yesterday. In total, fifteen machines will be built. - CK NAH.SH Traxx DE Multi Engine

Sometimes it goes really fast. Last week, the first Traxx DE Multi Engine was delivered by Bombardier in Kassel to Nahverkehrsverbund Schleswig-Holstein (NAH.SH). Today it had its first day of revenue service. Main purpose of practice test runs is to measure the fuel consumption of this four-engine diesel locomotive under -real- conditions.

The images in this post show Paribus>NAH.SH locomotive 245 201-9 today, pulling married pair coaches, in service of the Nord-Ostsee-Bahn (NOB). This trains ran on the -Marschbahn- today, connecting Hamburg - Westerland (Sylt) vv.

The to-be-selected operator will take over the rakes of married-pair coaches as shown in the pictures. You see the 245 201 pulling the train, as push-pull operation is not possible yet. This requires re-wiring the coaches and adjusting their driver cabs. A first set is now under -construction- already, and until December all sets will be done. For now, to replace the set that is under construction, the NOB has taken a set of six older -flex-park- coaches back into service. - KAR/DSO/NJ/MP/TB

Bombardier will build fifteen units, all to be delivered this year. They will be operated by a passenger railway company still to be selected, on the route Hamburg - Westerland/Sylt. NAH.SH Traxx DE Multi Engine

LVS ordered 15 Traxx DE Multi Engine locomotives in March 2014, to be provided to an operator that will be selected in the future. - nah.sh NAH.SH Traxx DE Multi Engine

Read the complete Bombardier press statement here.

It sure is the week of new orders. Today: Bombardier Signs First Order with Private Customer for Traxx Diesel Multi-Engine Locomotives. Delivery of 15 locomotives is scheduled for 2015. Contract volume is approximately 60 million euro plus service contract. Locomotives will be used by an operator that still needs to be selected by Landesverkehrsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein (LVS). This operator will deploy the new vehicles to transport passenger trains from Hamburg to Westerland/Sylt.

Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation and the special purpose company Paribus-DIF-Netz-West-Lokomotiven GmbH & Co. KG (Paribus-DIF) have signed a contract for the delivery of 15 Bombardier Traxx Diesel Multi-Engine locomotives. This is the first time that a private customer has ordered the innovative Traxx DE ME locomotives.

The total contract value based on the list price is approximately 60 million euro (83 million US). The contract includes an option of up to five additional locomotives. An additional service contract for the adaption of modern control electronics in cab cars, valued at approximately 5 million euro (8 million US), was signed with Paribus-DIF-Netz-West-Waggon GmbH & Co. KG, a sister company of Paribus-DIF-Netz-West-Lokomotiven GmbH & Co. KG.

Delivery of the locomotives for Paribus-DIF is scheduled for 2015. Paribus-DIF is a joint venture of the German investment management company Paribus Capital GmbH and the Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF), a Europe-focused institutional investor in infrastructure assets. Paribus' subsidiary Northrail GmbH will provide all asset management services to the joint venture. Paribus-DIF was chosen in a tender by the Landesverkehrsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein (LVS) to lease the locomotives to an operator also being selected by the LVS. The operator will deploy the new vehicles to transport passenger trains from Hamburg to Westerland/Sylt.

The locomotives are designed for speeds of up to 160 km/h. The multi-engine concept enables four simultaneously working engines to be controlled individually to maximize energy efficiency. This means that the Traxx Diesel Multi-Engine locomotive requires less diesel fuel than other locomotives with corresponding overall power. It meets the Stage IIIB emission standards, providing more environmentally friendly operation while also emitting less noise.

Production of the locomotives will take place at Bombardier's Kassel plant in Germany. The carbodies will be produced at Bombardier's Wroclaw site in Poland, the bogies at its Siegen site in Germany, while the Propulsion and Controls equipment will be manufactured at its Mannheim and Hennigsdorf sites, also in Germany. NAH.SH Traxx DE Multi Engine

Also note that the current 'Netz West' concession, containing the train service between Hamburg and Westerland (Sylt), is running to an end. In 2015, a new concession period will start, ending in 2025. 90 passenger coaches will be taken over from the NOB and next to the 15 Traxx locos, 3 multiple units will be acquired by Schleswig-Holstein. This presentation about the 'Netz West' concession contains an artist impression of what the new Traxx locomotives might look like: link.

With the 'Netz West' concession coming to an end and with the acquisition of new Traxx diesel locomotives, the EuroRunner era comes to an end. Various MRCE and three Ascendos Rail EuroRunners are therefore likely to become available again. NAH.SH Traxx DE Multi Engine