Over the weekend, RailAdventure took three TRAXX locomotive to the south-east of Germany: brand new Railpool 186 445, 187 315 and test locomotive Macquarie Rail 186 236. The first two machines continued their journey to Velim, 186 236 was taken towards Austria.

The batch of 17 TRAXX AC3 locomotives for Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania (187 300-316) for Railpool is almost complete. The only two machines we have not seen yet, are the 187 300 and 314.

While searching for a Czech operator issuing its third tender, we also stumbled upon an entry from the Dutch railways (NS) that "intends to conclude a framework agreement for a period of 5 years (with the possibility for extension for an additional 3x1 years) with all selected suppliers capable of providing (a) lease(s) for (a) TRAXX DABNL locomotive(s) that are suitable for use on the Dutch network, including HSL (High Speed Line) and the Belgian Network (including line 4) and suitable for sandwich operation with the existing fleet of NS Traxx DABNL Locomotives and ICRmh Coaches, on all routes."

The end date for interested parties to submit a bid is 03.03.2017.

Railcolor: NS is also looking for more DE/AT/BE/NL configured locomotives for pulling Intercity Direct services. NS already has 66 such machines in its fleet (45 in ownership, 21 on hire from Alpha Trains and Macquarie Rail), of which 61 units are currently available to NS' Intercity Direct program. Three other units are being used for software tests: 186 002, 186 122 and 186 236. The workshops in Dessau have just completed a revision 186 240 and 186 237 is subhired by NS to the Belgian railways to pull trains between Amsterdam and Brussels.

During the past months, Macquarie Rail > Crossrail 186 901 payed a visit to Bombardier's in Kassel. Going in dirty, getting out shiny and clean. Photos: Christian Klotz

Madil Mayouche was the first today to document the newest locomotive for the Dutch railways. NS E 186 032 arrived in the Netherlands this morning, together with Macquarie Rail 186 144, fresh from its R1 overhaul at the workshops of Dessau. Roem Hemkes caught the machines together at Amersfoort today.

Tonight, Alpha Trains > NS 186 111 and 112 arrive in the Netherlands, in blue and yellow. They have had their R1 overhaul in Dessau, Germany during the past weeks. This means all twelve Alpha Trains locos that the Dutch railways are hiring (186 111-122) have been overhauled and repainted, no more red and white.

Next month, the delivery will start of a new batch of TRAXX MS locos for the NS, commencing with unit no. 186 020. NS has still 18 units on order.

Thanks to Ron Snieder en René Klink for the images.

Next December, the CityNightLine services Amsterdam - Frankfurt(/Basel/Munich) vv will no longer halt in Emmerich (Dutch-German border station) to change locomotive. This means Macquarie Rail > NS 186 237/238 will pull the trains between Amsterdam and Frankfurt and back.

Today, 186 237 was taken to Cologne for driver instruction.

Finally, a picture of Macquarie's 186 150 that got its red nose back. During its time with Captrain, the red bars up front were painted lime green (including the lamp housings). The new look combines better with the Crossrail logos. (Normann Gottberg)

Yesterday, NS 186 238 pulled a InterCity from Berlin (IC 146 Bad Bentheim - Amsterdam) for the first time. Together with 186 237 this machine is new in the Traxx fleet of the Dutch railways (NS). The machines replace 186 148/149 that are being retrofitted to pull IC Direct trains over the Dutch high speed line. (Henk Zwoferink)

There is still going on a lot in the Netherlands, regarding Traxx MS locomotives in service of the Dutch railways (NS). The size of the locomotive fleet is constantly growing and locomotives are being re-equipped continuously. An overview:

All locomotives on hire from Alpha Trains, all in use for IC Direct Amsterdam - Breda vv:
- in red: 186 111, 112, 116 and 120
- in Dessau in revision: 186 115 and 121
- revision completed, in yellow and blue: 186 113, 114, 117-119, 122

All locomotives on hire from Macquarie Rail:
- 186 142: Benelux service Amsterdam - Brussels
- 186 148+149: being modified for hauling IC Direct trains
- 186 144+236: used for IC Direct trains Amsterdam - Breda
- 186 237+238: new, for passenger trains to Germany
- 186 239: used for IC Direct trains Amsterdam - Breda

Property of NS:
- 186 001, 003-006, test locomotives for sandwich service IC Direct
- 186 002, 007, 009-019: used for IC Direct trains Amsterdam - Breda
- 186 008: in Kassel for repair
- 186 020-037 (numbers not confirmed): on order

Thanks Rens Bloom.

NS International, the division of the Dutch Railways about international train travel, is using Traxx MS locomotives now for the IC 146/147 services (Amsterdam - Berlin vv). Up til now these trains were pulled by 1700 series locomotives, but their availability is problematic. Two locomotives are available, Macquarie Rail 186 148 and 149, which were already used by NS International for CityNightLine services.

The Traxx locomotives pull the IC trains from Amsterdam to Bad Bentheim (DE) vv. It is not clear if the usage of the Traxx locomotives is a temporary solution or not.

PKP IC, the passenger operator from Poland, is currently facing a locomotive shortage. That is why is currently tendering for three locomotives to hire for a three month period. The situation should improve when Stadler Rail will start delivering the new 160 kph Flirt3 trains and Pesa has its first Dart trains (series ED161) available for service, but this will still take while.

For now, PKP IC has to be creative to find enough haulage power, resulting in exotic combinatiosn. EU07-167 from Ecco Rail is being used for example. Two red Vectrons are being hired from DB Schenker Rail Polska (no. 5 170 049 and 052). And the movie below shows Macquarie Rail 186 136 pulling the EC train to Berlin:

Crossrail was not happy with the application of its logos on the hired 186 150. In April the light grey machine got red logos on its sides and front, but their position have been changed in the mean time. The smaller side logos were removed again, up front there is now a logo in the center. The green (Captrain colored) front bar and lamp houses still could use some red paint though. That would compliment the livery better.

An image from Aachen of Macquarie Rail > Crossrail 186 150 and its new Crossrail stickers.

I'm at Nedtrain Watergraafsmeer C bundel in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland https://t.co/zkkatXl7az pic.twitter.com/wq8aU2grqB

— Willem vander Houven (@Steelwheelz) January 7, 2015

On 29.12.2014 test runs were held with 186 148 between Zevenaar (NL) and Emmerich (DE), evaluating the performance of ERTMS systems, obligatory to run on this track section. Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

This images shows SNCB no. 2809 / E 186 201 waiting for its first duty as Benelux service from Amsterdam to Brussels. After a two year break, this 'classic' international trains is back on its original route. And now 16 times a day, instead of 12.

In the past years the service only connected Brussels with The Hague HS after. Originally it was cancelled completely in favour of the new high speed services with AnsaldoBreda's Fyra V250 trains, but after these trains were taken out of service, the Benelux trains were reinstated quickly. But as train paths to Amsterdam were then already taken by other trains, the Benelux had to be shortened.

As from today, it run on its original route again, so it is not using the high speed lines between Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp. These faster trains will be introduced in the next years.

For the current services, Dutch ICRm coaches are being used, like before. Many of these still wear the Fyra livery. These stickers will gradually disappear. In the past months, NS has been retrofitting more ICRm coaches, coming from domestic services, for the Benelux services. They are now forming fixed rakes of coaches in the normal NS blue and yellow livery. They got a different door closing system using spanjolets, a demand of the Belgian railways, that approved these additional coaches only last week. The newly formed rakes also have a driving trailer, but this is not used as such. This coach is taken along as it has features a toilet for people with physical disabilities and extra space for service personnel. Locomotives are always pulling the trains.

NMBS/SNCB, the Belgian railways currently have ten Traxx MS locomotives from its freight pool available for the Benelux services: 2802, 2803, 2806, 2809, 2812, 2813, 2815, 2821, 2832 and 2833. But more are needed (especially now the 2821 crashed onto a car last night).

The software of NS lease locomotive 186 142 has already been downgraded so it can assist on the Benelux service. The machine was already seen in Brussels yesterday. NS plans on having the newly delivered 186 001-019 being homologated for Belgium too as back-up. Alpha Trains TRAXX MS2e Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e NS TRAXX MS2e

During the test runs, the longitudinal forces and shear on the first locomotive was measured using a special coupling and cameras. - CR

Both locomotives used, e.g. E 186 149 and 239, are part of the locomotive fleet of the Dutch railways (NS) for some time now, but are rarely seen. The test are being held for the Amsterdam - Breda shuttle service of NS.

Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e NS TRAXX MS2e

Railcolor: More information about these trains:

Alpha Trains TRAXX MS2e Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

Railcolor: More information about these trains:

Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

But it has changed once more. Now they have I-XRI markings up front (Crossrail Italia) but I-XRAIL markings on the site (XRAIL is mostly used in combination with D- for Crossrail locomotives). - CK

[Edit] Crossrail Italia is the new lessor. - KAR

Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

Bombardier requested the Dutch railways (NS), operator of the Intercity Direct, to put all locomotives aside as the manufacturer wanted to check the pantographs of all locomotives. Appearantly, there was a problem with the pantographs big enough to justify this drastic measure.

Update 08.04.2014 9.00 pm: The first locomotives have been inspected by Bombardier and are approved for commercial service again. Tomorrow NS will start with an hourly Intercity Direct service again. Depending on how long it will take to inspect all remaining locomotives, the frequency of the services will be increased as soon as possible. - nu.nl / telegraaf.nl

Update 09.04.2014 04.30 pm: Starting at 04.25 pm, all Intercity Direct services are available again. Everything back to normal. - parool.nl Alpha Trains TRAXX MS2e Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

Both engines also have new numbers: 91 83 2186 909-4 I-RCI and 91 83 2186 910-2 I-RTC. - CK Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

Until 28.11.2013 the machine will be used for transition tests on all track sections with ETCS in the Netherlands. It first ran on the HSL-Zuid from Amsterdam to Breda. Then it visited the Hanzelijn running from Amsterdam to Zwolle. Next were the Havenspoorlijn in Rotterdam and the BetuweRoute from Kijfhoek shuntyard to Emmerich (DE).

Finally the new software equipment on board of the 186 142 will be tested on Roosendaal (NL) - Essen (BE) and Montzen (BE) - Aachen-West (DE). Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

NS Hispeed (a name that will disappear too as this company will be re-integrated into the Dutch Railways again) will introduce the new name 'Intercity Direct' for the Amsterdam - Breda shuttle.

Good news for the users for the future 'Intercity Direct': Per 15.12.2013 you don't have to pay an extra fee anymore for train tickets on the Breda - Rotterdam branch. - treinreiziger.nl/nu.nl Alpha Trains TRAXX MS2e Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

The exact time table can be found here.

Background information to the Fyra services is available in Bombardier Traxx Tour (look for Traxx F160 MS 2e). Alpha Trains TRAXX MS2e Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

The Dutch railways is slowly but steadily expanding its fleet with extra Traxx MS locomotives. There are the red 186 111-122 leased from Alpha Trains. 186 144 and 236 had a small break but joined the fleet again early this year. The real newbies are Macquarie Rail 186 149 and 239. Both were previously hired to Continental Rail Services, that had to file for bankruptcy in June.

< check the Trainspo.com gallery

This firm will continue CBRail's activities under a new brand: Macquarie European Rail. CBRail DE2000 Macquarie Rail 285 Macquarie Rail TRAXX F140AC2 (185.2) Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

It will take years to recover from this accident. A new signal box will be erected in 2014, which is a real challenge as building such a system takes five years normally (the article states). The capacity of the station is still fifty percent and the financial damage is huge, in the range of tenths of millions. Also, E 186 140, which is not a real surprise, will be scrapped. - FG Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

Report. Images. More images. Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

186 237 and 238 are available to operators that have their locomotives sent to Kassel for retrofitting. Both will be in service of Captrain until the three units mentioned above will return. - RR/DSO/LP/KAR Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

186 240 left Slovakia on 08.06.2011. Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e

Next to that, unit 186 240 was spotted in Kassel near the factory with special Bombardier promotional vinyls. Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e Railpool 185.2

LOTOS also has ten Traxx DE diesels on order, so they are expanding rapidly. - LOTOS

update: many thanks to the people who contributed their LOTOS images. More are always welcome! Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e Railpool TRAXX MS2e

The other three newcomers are 186 141, 143 and 145, in service of Przewozy Regionalne (PR) until this week. PR was more fond of the EuroSprinter, so the Traxx units had to go and ES 64 F4-451 to 456 were picked up.

So now we have seven Traxx units at Lotos, 6 newcomers and 186 147, already at Lotos since 2009. But that's not it; the rynek-kolejowy.pl article says there is more to come. Lotos plans to have 20-25 Traxx units in service in 2011. Railpool 186 146 has already been spotted with Lotos logos around Kassel, so there we have number eight...

We will keep you informed. Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e Railpool TRAXX MS2e

Macquarie Rail 285 Macquarie Rail (former CBRail) TRAXX MS2e