In 2004, the NordOstseeBahn (subsidiary of the Connex Group, which has changed its name into Veolia Transport in 2006), was awarded with the contract for the Marschbahn services; (Hamburg-Altona - Elmshorn - Itzehoe - Heide - Husum - Niebüll - Westerland(Sylt). ME26 diesel locomotives were bought from Siemens Dispolok and overhauled, new EuroSprinter diesel machines were purchased from Siemens and Bombardier got to deliver 4 new electrics. After the summer of 2005 the Kassel assembly factory therefore delivered the 146 519-522 numbered machines, painted yellow and blue, the standard colour scheme for all Connex rolling stock at that moment.

The first locomotive was presented in Berlin Hennigsdorf, where Bombardier has its testing facilities, together with the new married pairs single deck passenger coaches for these services.

Since the delivery of these machines, not only the name of there owner, also their tasks and purpose changed. The Veolia 146.5 series is increasingly used for freight services (exploited by Veolia subsidiary RBB) and since March 2006 they haul the Interconnex service between Berlin and Leipzig.