Transmashholding and Russian Railways create world's most powerful locomotives for Trans-Siberian and BAM
CJSC Transmashholding and experts from Russian Railways have implemented projects to build the world's most powerful four-section electric freight locomotive with alternating current (AC), the 4ES5K Yermak, and the electric freight locomotive with asynchronous traction motors, the 2ES5 Scythian.
According to the press center of Russian Railways, the latest electric locomotive, the 4ES5K, has unprecedented power of 13,120 kW, which enables it to handle heavy trains in the difficult natural terrain where Russian Railways operates in the country's eastern areas. The 4ES5K locomotive has been unified as far as possible with the Yermak family of mass-produced electric locomotives manufactured at the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant.
The 4ES5K offers comfortable conditions for the locomotive crews. The booster section is equipped with a dressing room and bathroom for the crews which meet all modern sanitary, ergonomic and safety standards.
The electric 4ES5K is designed to power freight trains weighing 7,100 tons on the stretch between Tayshet - Taksimo on the Baikal-Amur Main Line without the need for additional locomotives, and also to power freight trains weighing up to 9,000 tons.
The 4ES5K series is expected to obtain its certificate of compliance in November 2014. Russian Railways will require 53 units of the 4ES5K series by 2020 in order to meet its needs.
The 2ES5 is Russia's first two-piece mainline freight electric locomotive with AC fifth generation asynchronous traction motors and boasts power amounting to 8,400 kW. Switching to the 2ES5 electric locomotive will significantly reduce the cost of locomotive maintenance and repairs, as well as the downtime needed for repairs.
On 23 July 2014, the 2ES5 electric locomotive series received the state Compliance Certificate. Commissioning of these locomotives is due to begin later this year. Demand from 2014 to 2020 is planned at 200 units.
These locomotives will mean that additional engines on the Mariinsk - Irkutsk route will no longer be necessary and that the weight norm can be increased not only on that route, but also between Mezhdyrechensk - Taishet - Taksimo and Mariinsk - Taishet - Taksimo.
The latest locomotives will be able to pull heavy trains on railway sections with steep climbs, boost weight standards and significantly increase the capacity of the railway network, enabling them to become a critical element in the development strategy of Russia's railway transport, especially in developing heavy-duty traffic on the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian Main Lines.