During the past week, former ES 64 U2-031 has completed its metamorphosis in Västerĺs (SE). Now it reappears, fresh and shiny as 242.001 'LaMotta' in the livery of its new employer, Hector Rail. According to unofficial sources, the 242.001 will complete various test runs in Sweden in week 35-39, then return to Linz (AT) in week 40, where it will get a technical overhaul in week 41 to 49. So revenue service with 242.001 in Sweden is not expected to start before the end of 2010. - postvagnen.com / AS
Today, the sounding D express has set of for a 19-day journey across Germany. This special train will collect typical sounds from different German cities and combine those into characteristic soundscapes. Along the way, the sounding D train will be in the center of many musical activities and concerts. Alpha Trains' 185 517 has become sounding D locomotive for this occasion, including a special livery and three special coaches.
Today, the orange E 189 801 has arrived at Lippstadt, home of the Westfälische Landes-Eisenbahn (WLE). Now driver-training can start. The 189 801 came from Nürnberg, where it was parked. - CK/MT
Today, two new Traxx MS units for Railpool completed their maiden run: 186 272 and 273. Most likely, they will go to Poland, so that operator LOTOS can extend its fleet. - CK
A newsflash from the south of France, where diesel-Prima 475402 is subjected to dynamic tests to get the new, more powerful subserie it is representing, homologated for France. In the first weeks of August, the ran from Marseille to Nice vv. Right now the trials have moved to the Toulouse and Narbonne connection. For some background information on the 475400 series, check our item on this topic from last January - AG
SIEMENS
