The new unit, designated 744.168, will primarily be used for the transfer of rolling stock between company facilities in Přerov and Hranice na Moravě.
The trial took place on a 6.4-kilometre section between the Sajóbábony siding and the Miskolc marshalling yard, with the locomotive hauling a freight train weighing 2,200 tonnes.
The new Vectron features ELL’s standard livery with Freightliner branding.
The biggest rolling stock leasing company in Central and Eastern Europe expands its fleet by deliveries from domestic Polish manufacturers.
This move follows the company’s current operation of six leased Vectron units.
The event included on-track demonstrations and technical visits to the CEF test centre and Alstom’s maintenance facilities.
The information gathered from these initial steps is expected to contribute to the development of a wider plan for the potential transition of the European rail fleet toward lower emissions.
The locomotive, numbered 337 010, has been handed over to the customer for operations in Spain.
The company began operations in Italy five years ago with an initial fleet of five units.
Both moves are part of the company’s effort to establish a broader presence in the northern Harz region through combined traction capability and infrastructure access.
Three of the newly ordered locomotives will be equipped with approval packages enabling operation across Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.
The company has entered into new full-service maintenance agreements in Scandinavia as part of its operational framework for leased locomotives.
The delivery is expected in September 2025.
In addition to the current procurement, ADY plans to extend the fleet with an additional order for 14 mainline locomotives.
The batch delivered in April 2025 represents the beginning of the delivery cycle for this year. Earlier deliveries under similar configurations have already entered regular operation.
The company is targeting Nordic rail freight corridors as a long-term area of operation, supported by an expanding fleet that aligns with evolving environmental and performance requirements.
The delivery follows a pattern of incremental fleet growth by RheinCargo through leasing arrangements.
The fleet now consists of five EuroDual and four Euro9000 locomotives.
The project serves as a technical trial for automated coupling integration in regional rail contexts.
Testing of a steam locomotive fitted with the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 has been completed on the Cambrian line in Wales.