Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen mbH (LNVG) in Lower Saxony, Germany, started to set up its own pool of railway vehicles back in 1997. By doing this the LNVG saved time (rolling stock could be ordered before an EVU / rail operator was contracted) and they saved money, by ordering coaches, train sets and locomotives in greater numbers.

Since 2003 various Traxx locomotives have been added to the LNVG fleet. They are now all hired to Metronom Eisenbahngesell-schaft GmbH, the operator that has been contracted by the LNVG. (Originally, the name Metrorail was chosen, but this name was already in use). In December 2003 Metronom started services on the Hamburg-Bremen and Hamburg-Uelzen relations using Bombardier Traxx1 P160 AC1 locomotives (ME 146 01-10) and corresponding rakes of double deck coaches, built by the same manufacturer.

In 2005 the Uelzen-Gottingen relation was added to the Metronom contract. In 2007 Hamburg-Luneburg, Hamburg-Torstedt (exploited as Metronom Regional - MEr), and Hamburg-Cuxhaven followed. The last one is exploited with 246 series diesel Traxx units. For the other lines 20 additional Traxx electrics were delivered, but their design is based on the Traxx2 platform.

Bombardier is responsible for the maintenance of all LNVG Traxx units.