[1] The procurement specifications were published in March 1993, accepted bidders were listed in September 1993, with bids received in February 1994.

[8] Input to the design came from ACEC Transport (Charleroi) designing the electrical system and undertaking project coordination, other contributors were: Alstom, Le Creusot manufacture of the first 30 bogies, the remainder by Stork RMO (Netherlands); Pauwels supplied transformers; Alstom, Ornans, traction motors; the first 10 locomotives were manufactured at Alstom, Belfort, the remainder at Bombardier Transportation's factory in Belgium (La Brugeoise et Nivelles, Bruges).

[1][4][6] The electrical system allows regenerative braking, except under 1.5 kV DC electrification, under which the locomotives operate at reduced power.

High levels of electromagnetic noise due to resonance when operating near SNCF BB 15000 or DB Class 181 locomotives in Luxembourg initially caused restriction to single unit working.

In Belgium the locomotives were unable to be operated on DC supply due to high levels of 50 Hz harmonics.

[5][11] In December 2002 locomotives of the class began to operate commercial services at their top speed of 200 km/h on InterCity A trains Leuven and Liege.

[12] Other ones started to replace other engines on freight trains; they were staple power on the newly-electrified Athus-Meuse line, electrified in 25 Kv AC.

], the freight engines belong to Lineas while a handful of Class 13 are used on IC trains between Brussels and Luxembourg.