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TRAXX Operations in Switzerland
By Peider SwissTrip

AEG and ABB-Henschel are the two major companies that lay the basis for all modern locomotive products produced by Bombardier. In the nineties they bundled their competences under the direction of Daimler and formed Adtranz. Later on Daimler sold Adtranz to Bombardier from Canada, giving it the current name. AEG had developed the 12X prototype to show its future vision on modern electric locomotives. The 12X can be seen as the predecessor of the German 145 series, the basis for the Traxx platform, and was outshopped 30.06.1994. 12X had the German 128 classification with unit 001 number.

Browsing on Google map the tracks around Zurich, I found in the backyard of an industry at Oerlikon an unfamiliar locomotive. Checking out, a big surprise was waiting! The 12X 128 001 was stored for several years on a track near the Bombardier electronic laboratory. In July 2010 it was brought back to Henningsdorf/Germany, the place where it was produced. The 12X has a remarkable speed of 220 km/h (137 Mph) and develops 6'400 kW. It runs under 15 kV 16,7 Hz AC systems only.

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Bombardier TRAXX family
TRAXX is a modular product platform of electric and diesel-electric mainline locomotives built by Bombardier Transportation, built in both freight and passenger variants. The first version was a dual voltage AC locomotive built from 2000 for German railways. Later versions include DC versions, as well as quadruple voltage machines, able to operate on European electrification schemes as 1.5/3.0 kV DC and 15/25 kV AC. The TRAXX brand name itself was introduced in 2003. The acronym stands for Transnational Railway Applications with eXtreme fleXibility. For the source of this Vision report have been used information for example on mentioned Companies and Rail Operators, Railcolor.net and Wikipedia sources.	TRAXX Operations in Switzerland created for 4rail.net by Peider SwissTrip. Pictures by Peider SwissTrip and Ilkka Siissalo.

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General information on TRAXX operation in Switzerland

The actual TRAXX operation in Switzerland takes place almost exclusively on transit traffic between Basle and Chiasso (Gotthard route) and between Basle and Domodossola (Lötschberg – Simplon route). The main depots and locations, where you can find TRAXX units are Muttenz yard in Basle (and all companies mentioned in this report), Erstfeld with DB Schenker Rail BR 185 hub, Bellinzona with the take over point of SBB Re 484 and 482 depot, Chiasso with Re 484 depot as well as NordCargo E 483, Spiez with BLS 485/486 depot and Domodossola/Italy, as connection station to Italian operators. Other spots with small TRAXX traffic are the Lake Constance area in eastern Switzerland as well the container terminal at Niederglatt near Zurich, both destination served from Germany.

One of the first Swiss TRAXX operator was MThB - Mittelthurgaubahn AG, which operated 2000 till 2002 altogether 6 TRAXX F140 AC, which were the only class 145 operating in Switzerland. After business failure, SBB took them over, but never operated them in Switzerland. Until they were sold in 2005 to MRCE leasing company they were used with SBB Cargo as Re 481 in Germany. Picture in Kreuzlingen 2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.

28.2.2009 Muttenz/Basel: At the yard of Muttenz, three freight trains are waiting for clearance to proceed towards Italy over the Gotthard route. From left to right: TRAXX F140 AC2 - 185 580 of Crossrail/Switzerland, SBB TRAXX F140 AC1 - 482 025, the black MRCE - Mitsui Rail Capital Europe BV owned TRAXX F140 AC2 - 185 563, leased by German rail4chem Eisenbahnverkehrsgesellschaft mbH (part of Captrain) and behind the TRAXX F140 AC1 - 185 541 of Hannover Mobilien Leasing GmbH/Germany, hired by rail4chem in the European Bulls livery, an alliance of seven European rail freight companies. Note: The AC2 version got in 2005 a new, flat body front, with crash optimized lower front part. The AC1 class (see SBB unit) has the old, typical inward formed lower body front. Picture by Peider SwissTrip.

26.5.2009 Chiasso: Bombardier TRAXX - 484 011 side by side with Siemens ES64F4 - 474 012. Both companies developed in 2002/2003 multi systems engines for an integrated European freight market and are today still the main competitors for supplying it. SBB Cargo Italia operates 21 class 484 (and leased 2007 – 2011 another three units from MRCE) along with 18 class 474 units ordered for its Italian market operation. Both SBB Cargo Italia classes have the E-SR registration according to Italian regulations. Picture by Peider SwissTrip.

6.7.2009 Erstfeld: A loco train on the way back to their owners with three Railpool and two Angel Train E 186 after overhaul and repainting work at SBB depot in Bellinzona. Those TRAXX engines operate normally outside Switzerland. Last unit shown is a Railpool 186 107.

9.7.2009 Bellinzona: At Bellinzona (south side of Gotthard) SBB Cargo changes their German/Swiss homologated TRAXX Re 482 units, under 15/25 kV AC working (as well as older class Re 4/4-Re 6/6) for the TRAXX Re 484 with Italian accreditation and 15/25kV AC + 1,5/3kV DC power system. The Re 484 takes over the freight trains for distribution to northern Italian customers. On the left is 484 105, leased from MRCE to SBB Cargo, middle is rail4chem (Captrain) 185 571 and right SBB 484 013 having together a break from work at Bellinzona yard.

19.9.2009 Bellinzona: The SBB Re 482 drivers control panel with four flat screen displays.