Hors d'oeuvres - the latest, most interesting news

ČD Vectrons In Berlin And Hamburg

Starting on 8 May 2018, ČD’s Class 193s have been venturing much deeper into Germany than in the recent past, when since December 2017 they only reached as far as Dresden or Leipzig hauling EC expresses from Praha. Now, they have daily diagrams, one to Berlin, the other to Berlin and Hamburg. This photo was taken on 8 May showing 193 290 heading EC 175 "Robert Schumann" to Praha hl. n. upon departure from the low level in Berlin Hbf. Starting on 10 June 2018 it is envisaged that the Class 193s will be used on all EC diagrams between Praha, Berlin and Hamburg, as originally intended.

DMV Rail Cargo Receives Vectron ACs

On the night of 12/13 March 2018 the Bulgarian operator DMV Rail Cargo took delivery of two Vectron ACs. This photo shows them on the 13th at the Express Service works at Obraztsov chiflik, near Ruse. Closest to the camera is 192 961, this being a 5,600 kW machine formerly used by Siemens as reserve stock, while the other one is 193 972, a standard 6,400 kW Vectron, recently built for this order. They are scheduled to enter service in late April, hauling fuel oil trains from Vratsa.

ÖBB Presents First Vectron

On 5 March 2018 at Wien-Praterstern ÖBB organised the presentation of the first of the 30 Vectron MS locomotives it ordered in January 2017. It is numbered 1293 001, and is to be formally be handed over in late May. These photos were taken not only during the event, but also afterwards, with 1293 001 running between Wien Rennweg and Wien Hauptbahnhof.

ZSSK Takes Delivery Of More Vectrons

On 25 February 2018, 383.104, 105, 106 and 107 reached Slovakia. These are the next four Vectrons out of the batch of ten to be hired by ZSSK from S Rail Lease. This photo shows them at Kittsee, the last station prior to the Slovakian border and Bratislava-Petržalka. Their formal hand-over will result in ZSSK having seven Vectrons.

Vectron MS 383.202, carrying an EVN of S Rail Lease, made a test run near München on 23 February. Its future operator is as yet unknown, but it is quite possible that it will be used on freight services in Slovakia.

New Vectrons For ČD Cargo And For Others

On 21 December 2017 the last two Vectron MS locomotives so far ordered by ČD Cargo, 383.007 and 008, crossed Germany en route to the VUZ Velim test centre. This photo shows them near Schkortleben, south of Halle. They arrived at Velim on the 22nd. It is planned to hand them over to ČD Cargo early in the New Year.

There have also been other recent deliveries of Vectrons, both instances involving the first locomotives of batches on order. The next photo in this sequence shows 193 461 and 462. These are the first of 18 Vectron MSes on order for LokRoll, which is to hire them to SBB Cargo International. This photo was taken in München-Allach works. The two locomotives departed from there on 11 December, bound for Switzerland. They are now being used for staff training purposes, both on light engine runs, and hauling commercial freights.

The third photo was taken on 1 December 2017. It shows 476 451, the first of seven Vectron AC LM locomotives ordered by Coop subsidiary railCare. The photo was taken at Schafisheim, where 476 451 started service that day. Since then it has been employed regularly on freights between there and Felsberg in Graubünden canton. Here, on track shared with RhB, it uses catenary energised at 11 kV AC.

First RegioJet Train Visits Wien

On 30 November 2017, a RegioJet train, hauled by Vectron 193 205, entered Wien Hbf. This was part of the preparations prior to the start of regular Praha - Wien services on 10 December. RegioJet owner, Radim Jančura, says that when the service starts the trains will be formed of rakes of five or six yellow-liveried carriages. During 2018 it is expected the trains will have up to nine cars.

First ČD-Liveried Vectron On Passenger Service

During the afternoon of 20 November 2017 193 295, one of the Vectrons hired by ČD from ELL, hauled its first regular passenger train, this being Ex 537 “Budvar” Praha-Holešovice - České Budějovice. This photo shows it prior to departure from Praha hl. n.

First Vectron For ZSSK

On 4 October 2017 the results of ZSSK’s invitation to tender for the hire of ten multi-system electrics was made known, when Bratislava based S Rail Lease was nominated preferred bidder. Under the terms of the contract three of the locomotives are to be delivered by 10 December 2017. The first one, 383 101, arrived at Bratislava-Petržalka on 16 November 2017.

New Motive Power For Unipetrol Doprava

Czech operator Unipetrol Doprava recently placed an order with Siemens for three Vectron MSs and with CZ LOKO for two EffiLiner 1600 modernised diesels. The first locomotives from both these batches are now ready. The Vectron is 383.050, while the EffiLiner is 753.606. This photo shows the Vectron on 26 October, when it was handed over to Unipetrol Doprava at VUZ Velim test centre. The other two Vectrons are to follow in spring 2018, while the other EffiLiner will be ready by the end of 2017.

RailRunner Starts Up Services In Europe

Over several years Massachusetts-based RailRunner has been developing plans to implement its bi-modal technology in Europe. At present it is envisaged that the first such trains may run in 2019. In the meantime the company’s subsidiary RailRunner Europe is poised to start up services using a conventional system - semitrailers carried on pocket wagons. The first services are to start on 31 July 2017.

On the 26th a couple of runs were made, between Braunschweig and Bratislava. The northbound train ran empty, the southbound one with empty semitrailers, to make them available for loading in Slovakia. This photo was taken on 27 July near Přelouč in the Czech Republic, showing the southbound train, hauled by ČD Cargo’s Vectron 383.002.