In 2005 Veolia Cargo (part of the Veolia Transportation group) was the first non-state operator that ordered Prima locomotives built by Alstom. And finally it proved to be the only one. By ordering electrics with the exact same configuration as the BB 37000 of Fret-SNCF, no one could obstruct Veolia starting freight service in and from France. By the end of 2006 first revenue services with Prima E37500s started.

The initial Veolia order included three units, but the ordered was extended three times, finally including 31 new units. However, the conditions for order three and four were renegotioted before delivery. It was decided that leasing company CBRail would step in, financing 16 of 24 units. Still, six of these units would be operated by Veolia, to be hired of CBRail. These six (37 508, 510, and 517-520) got the Veolia livery by delivery, but with small CBRail logos up front, in stead of the Veolia ones.

The remaining ten units are available to other customers of CBRail and are therefore delivered in a more neutral light grey livery.