ÖBB Class 1016 (Taurus)

Updated: August 2026 – An angular wedge, four axles, a rising tone sequence when starting off: the Taurus is the face of the modern ÖBB. The Class 1016 is the single-system variant of the family. This page shows you how to recognise it, how to tell it apart from the 1116 and 1216, and what the manufacturer code ES 64 U2 reveals.

What is the ÖBB Class 1016?

The Class 1016 is a four-axle general-purpose electric locomotive of the ÖBB from the Taurus family. Its manufacturer designation is Siemens ES 64 U2. It’s approved for 230 km/h, delivers around 6,400 kW and works as a single-system machine under the Austrian traction current system of 15 kV at 16.7 Hz.

“General-purpose” should be taken literally here: the locomotive is neither a pure passenger nor a pure freight machine. You’ll find it ahead of premium long-distance trains just as often as ahead of freight trains – a key difference from the specialised classes of other railways. Ahead of passenger trains it appears under ÖBB brand names, by day for instance in Railjet service. By night it’s the loco-hauled trains of the Nightjet that fall within its remit.

ES 64 U2: learning to read a manufacturer code

Rail vehicles often carry two names: an operator designation and a manufacturer designation. Both say something different, and both are readable.

This dual naming also explains why the same technical platform runs under completely different numbers in different countries. In Germany, for instance, the closely related Class 182 stands for the same basic design. How to generally get from vehicle type to specific class is described in the guide to identifying rolling-stock classes.

Telling the 1016, 1116 and 1216 apart with confidence

This is by far the most common question about the Taurus – and the answer is simpler than many think: it’s about electrification systems.

Class	Manufacturer designation	Electrification systems	Typical range of operation
1016	ES 64 U2	15 kV / 16.7 Hz	Austria and networks with the same system
1116	ES 64 U2	15 kV / 16.7 Hz and 25 kV / 50 Hz	additionally networks with 25 kV
1216	ES 64 U4	several AC and DC systems	wide-ranging cross-border traffic

The multi-system Class 1216 is thus the variant for wide-ranging international traffic, while the Class 1116 covers everyday traffic between Austria and its neighbours.

Placement in railway operations

As a general-purpose locomotive, the 1016 can be used anywhere electric traction with 15 kV is available. That makes the search simple and the identification of the specific vehicle all the more important.

• Ahead of long-distance trains: the locomotive is a familiar sight on premium passenger services. Where push-pull operation is run, you’ll see it at the front or the rear depending on direction of travel.
• Ahead of freight trains: general-purpose locomotive means general-purpose use. Unlike the specialised passenger locomotives of other railways, it also runs ahead of heavy freight trains.
• In substitute and special traffic: when multiple units are out of service, loco-hauled sets step in – a recurring reason for unusual combinations.

This versatility has a practical consequence for your spotting: the train behind the locomotive helps far less with identification than it would for specialised classes. With a German long-distance locomotive, a glance at the coaching stock is often enough to narrow down the class. That doesn’t work with the Taurus – the same machine might be ahead of a long-distance train today and a freight train tomorrow. Identification therefore has to be based consistently on the vehicle itself: axle count, front shape, marking.

The second practical point concerns expectations. Because the class appears frequently in everyday service, simply spotting the class is quickly ticked off. It only gets interesting at the level of the individual machine – number, livery, special markings. Anyone who documents that from the start builds up a collection that still has something to offer years later.

Which specific diagrams are currently run loco-hauled shifts with every timetable change. That’s explicitly subject to change and should be checked before any dedicated trip. How the long-distance service in Austria is put together is covered on the page about Railjet.

Spotting and photography

The Taurus is a rewarding photographic subject: clean lines, high recognisability, and often striking liveries. Three points get more out of the picture.

1. Choose a three-quarter view. An angle of around 30 to 45 degrees to the vehicle axis shows the wedge-shaped front and the side wall at once. With advertising liveries, the side wall is the real information.
2. Use low-angle light. In the morning and late afternoon, the edges of the locomotive body stand out clearly. Harsh midday light makes the surfaces look flat.
3. Use the sound as an early warning. The rising tone sequence when starting off often reveals a Taurus setting off before you see it – use those seconds for a final check of your settings.

The basics of shutter speed, focal plane and composition are in the guide to taking good photos of trains. Anyone specifically chasing special liveries will find the method in the article on advertising locomotives and special liveries.

Common mix-ups

Cross-border traffic is the classic pitfall here. Vehicles kept by several operators run on the same lines, some with a very similar design. The country code next to the twelve-digit number – 81 for Austria – is therefore just as important as the class number.

Conclusion

The Class 1016 is the gateway into the Taurus world: four axles, wedge-shaped, 230 km/h, 6,400 kW – and single-system. Once you’ve sorted the family by electrification system, you’ll never confuse the 1016, 1116 and 1216 again. What remains interesting after that is above all the individual machine with its number and livery.