The 15kV ac 6.4MW locomotives will be equipped with ETCS and will be capable of operating at up to 200km/h.

Siemens says the locomotives are being assembled at its Allach plant near Munich and the first unit has already been handed over to MRCE.

MRCE was founded in 2004 and owns a fleet of around 300 locomotives, which are in use with passenger and freight operators across Europe.