Bombardier Transportation (www.bombardier.com) has handed over its 40th TRAXX Multi-System 2 (MS2) locomotive to Metrans (at a ceremony held at the latter’s container terminal site in Uhrineves near Prague).

Metrans, a private rail transport company based in the Czech Republic (witha subsidiary called Hamburger Hafen and Logistik AG — HHLA), first ordered MS2 locomotives in 2014 and called off 10 more in 2017.

Martin Horinek, Metrans’ chief operating officer, said: “Having our own fleet of locomotives enables us to better control our harbour-to-depot transport processes between North Sea ports and Central and Eastern Europe.

“Designed to operate on Europe’s varied voltage and control systems, Bombardier’s TRAXX locomotives offer the ideal blend of performance and flexibility.”

Dominik Rohrer, Bombardier Transportation’s project manager for the Metrans project, said: “Our strong relationship with Metrans and HHLA has enabled us to extend the TRAXX MS2 locomotive’s radius of operation to include the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

"These innovative and efficient locomotives are now capable of operating in eight countries along Europe’s vital East-West freight corridor.”

European rail customers have now bought almost 600 TRAXX MS locomotives, using them for both international freight and passenger service.

They are designed to operate on Europe’s four main rail supply voltages — 15kV and 25kV AC as well as 1.5kV and 3kV DC.