Railroad Development Corp., the Pittsburgh-based company with rail operations on four continents, has added electric locomotives to its operations in both France and Germany.
In Germany, subsidiary RDC Deutschland has bought two Class 101 electric locos from German national operator Deutsch Bahn and agreed to options to buy three more. The DB Class 101 is a four-axle, 125-mph, 6,400-kW, 8,580-hp express passenger locomotive built by Bombardier from 1996 to 1999.
DB used the locos for many express Intercity and Eurocity trains until 2020, although since then, early locomotives of the once 145-strong class have been withdrawn. DB is investing heavily in new ICE high speed trainsets and other new Intercity equipment, meaning the Class 101 locos and traditional Intercity cars they hauled are now being phased out.
The two locomotives in the initial sale are, as part of the agreement, now being overhauled at DB’s main electric locomotive shops in Dessau in central Germany; they should be in service by April. Three more locomotives have been assigned for future purchase.
RDC plans to use the locos to haul the SJEuronight service (Stockholm-Hamburg) which it operates in Germany south of the Danish border, and its own BTE AutoReiseZug/AlpenSylt Express trains that operate seasonally between northern Germany and destinations in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Use of the locomotives for freight is also an option – while designed for high-speed passenger use, they have been used occasionally for freight by DB in the past.
12 locomotives leased in France
In France, RDC affiliate Regiorail, which operates freight trains, will receive 12 former French Railways (SNCF) Alstom Prima electric locos. The units, class BB27300, were built in 2006-2010 for commuter rail service in the Paris region with older double-deck cars which are now being replaced with brand new EMU trains. The 4200-kW/5,600-hp, 87-mph locomotives can work from both overhead line voltages used in France, 1,500-volt DC and 25-kV AC.
SNCF has sold the first of the 67-strong Class BB27300 locomotives to British-based leasing company Beacon Rail, and Regiorail has agreed leases for 12 of them to add to its existing fleet and allow other locos to be taken off lease.
DB originally intended to use the 101s in freight service after all loco hauled intercity stock would be replaced by EMUs. At least that was the plan 25 years ago.
Do You know which ones will be taken over by RDC ?