In the early nineties, the delivery of 264 synchrone two-system BB 26000 “Sybic” series by GEC Alsthom to the French railways (SNCF) is ongoing. To improve international traffic between France and Belgium in the North and Italy in the South, a tri-system version (including 3 kV DC capabilites) is foreseen for the last thirty locomotives of the Sybic batch.

Lease company Akiem became the owner of thirty of these locomotives in July 2010: 36001-36030. They kept the red/silver SNCF paint scheme.