EMD locomotives to be tested in Russia
Posted on 30 Jan 2014. Edited by: John Hunter. Read 1693 times.
Electro-Motive Diesel is to supply demonstration SD42AC-R diesel locomotives to Russia this year for performance testing and certification. The 3,000hp locomotives — powered by 12-710 engines — are being built at EMD’s plant in Muncie, Indiana.
In December, EMD and Russian rolling-stock supplier UralVagonZavod signed a memorandum of understanding to examine opportunities for the development and manufacture of main-line diesel locomotives in Russia. A joint engineering team is planned to develop a 4,500hp locomotive, with EMD supplying the 16-710 engine, AC transmission and other ‘service-proven components, technologies and designs’.
A definitive agreement is expected to be signed ‘in the coming months’. EMD and UVZ will examine whether it would be possible to achieve 50% local content in Russian-built locomotives, and the partners also see opportunities for EMD natural-gas technology in Russia.