Year of construction: 2012 Length: 18,90 m Velocity: 160 km/h Service weight: 83 t kW: 2252 In April 2011, Deutsche Bahn AG and Bombardier Transportation signed a framework contract stipulating the delivery of up to 200 units of new TRAXX P160 DE ME locomotives. The locomotives, a reclassification of the 245 series, are intended to replace the large diesel locomotives from the 218 series that had become aged. The diesel-electric locomotives are equipped with four diesel engines (ME &ndash, Multi Engine) that drive four generators to create power that, in turn, supply the traction motors via the converters. The diesel motors switch on or off automatically depending upon the required output of the locomotives. Hidden behind this is a reduction in the idling time of the motors, which has a positive effect upon fuel consumption. Therefore, this concept is ideally suited to the new ecological and sustainable environmental concept of Deutsche Bahn AG. Thanks to the derivation from the TRAXX family, approximately 70 % of all utilised components are compatible with the existing TRAXX locomotives. The 245 series is assembled and constructed in the former Henschel &, Sohn plant in Kassel, Germany, that today belongs to Bombardier. Large components such as locomotive bodies and chassis are supplied from the Wroclaw and Siegen plants, amongst others. The supply of the first batch of 20 locomotive for DB Regio was requested directly upon the signing of the contract. The new locomotive series was officially presented at InnoTrans 2012 in the shape of the 245 003-9. The first models of the 245 series will be based at DB Regio in Kempten and Frankfurt am Main and have already successfully completed initial trial runs. Etched vent grille
