The 160km/h locomotives will be delivered in 2015 and are being procured on behalf of Schleswig-Holstein State Transport Company (LVS) for use on regional passenger services between Hamburg and Westerland (Sylt). The contract to operate this route for 10 years from December 2015 is currently being tendered. LVS will lease the locomotives for 19 years, and they will be used with a fleet of 90 leased push-pull coaches, which are already in service in Scheswig-Holstein.

Paribus-DIF is a joint venture between German investment management company Paribus Capital and the Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF), an institutional investor in infrastructure assets. Paribus locomotive leasing subsidiary Northrail will provide all asset management services for Paribus-DIF.

The Traxx DE ME is equipped with four Caterpillar C18 engines, which work simultaneously to offer a total continuous output of 2252kW. The locomotives are compliant with the latest EU Stage IIIB emissions standards.

A full technical description of the Traxx DE ME can be viewed here.