Innotrans '12 - Mercedes Benz Unimog U400

Not technically news, but something I never posted a picture of before: At every Innotrans, Mercedes Benz is present, presenting their rail vehicles. Technically speaking, Mercedes Benz does not make any rail vehicles, but their Unimog line of do-everything trucks is a very frequent target for conversion to road-railer, and Mercedes is actively marketing them as such.

Depending on the circumstances, these Unimogs can be used for anything. The one here is a rail cleaning car, especially for streetcar systems. Others can also be used to haul dead trams, as small shunting engines in mainline depots, or to plow snow on tracks (or the depot's parking space) - and sometimes a lot of this in one vehicle. Of course, with an on-rail top speed of no more than 30 km/h, and not being suitable for mainline use, the Unimog can't replace real locomotives, but it isn't meant to.