The locomotives will be assembled at Bombardier’s Kassel plant in central Germany using bodyshells from Wroclaw and bogies and traction equipment supplied by other Bombardier plants in Germany,

The Traxx ME utilises four Caterpillar C18 diesel engines which can be used in any combination from one to four engines, providing a maximum output of 2252kW.

Five of the locomotives (with an option for one additional unit) will be used by DB Long Distance to replace pairs of class 218.8 locomotives as ICE rescue locomotives stationed at strategic locations on the German network. The remaining three locomotives will be used by DB Regio in southern Germany.

DB ordered the first 20 class 245.0s in 2011 under a framework contract for up to 200 locomotives. These are in service with DB Regio in Bavaria and around Frankfurt-am-Main. A further seven locomotives entered service earlier this year with DB Long Distance on Sylt-Shuttle car-carrying trains.

Leasing company Paribus, in conjunction with the State of Schleswig-Holstein, has also acquired 15 similar class 245.2s equipped with high-capacity fuel tanks for regional services in Schleswig-Holstein. These will pass to DB Regio when the operator takes over Hamburg - Westerland (Sylt) services from Transdev Germany subsidiary NOB.