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GE Transportation Delivers First Evolution(R) Series Locomotive to Mongolian Railways

Sep 24, 2009 03:00:00 (ET)


ERIE, Pa., Sep 24, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GE Transportation today announced that Mongolian Railways has taken delivery and completed testing of its first Evolution(R) Series Locomotive produced at GE Transportation's Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, manufacturing site. The Evolution Locomotive is the most technologically advanced diesel-electric, heavy-haul locomotive to-date.

Mongolian Railways leases locomotives and railcars to railway companies in Mongolia. The Evolution Series Locomotive will be leased to Ulaanbaatar Railway to increase hauling capability while reducing costs due to the Evolution's fuel-efficient, low-emissions engine.

The Ulaanbaatar railway is an important gateway, connecting landlocked Mongolia with the countries of Europe, East Asia and South East Asia. The main railway route stretches from north to south connecting Moscow and Beijing.

Mongolian Railways' Evolution Locomotive features the same configuration as Evolution Locomotives in Kazakhstan including superior traction technology for transporting heavy-haul freight on steep grades and under adverse environmental conditions that are common to this region.

"We chose GE because it is the only company with a proven AC propulsion product and because of lower life-cycle costs," said A. Batbold, General Director of Mongolian Railways. "In addition, GE offered a service support package with the locomotive that includes an on site Technical Adviser, spare parts and tools."

Added Batbold: "The proven performance of GE's Dash-7 and Modernized locomotives helped increase our confidence in GE as well."

"The delivery of the first Evolution Locomotive marks an important milestone for our relationship with Mongolia, as well as being a great example of how globalization has opened up growth opportunities for GE Transportation," said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. "We look forward to building upon our productive relationships in Mongolia to serve the country's infrastructure needs."

Superior AC technology

Moreover, the Evolution Series locomotive is an industry breakthrough that delivers modern and efficient AC locomotive technology, replacing the older, less fuel-efficient DC technology.

AC traction, for instance, provides these locomotives with higher pulling capability and less wheel slippage thanks to individual axle adhesion control.

These locomotives provide measurably higher reliability and lower maintenance costs. This is thanks to GE Transportation's proprietary AC propulsion and control equipment being more reliable and providing superior performance compared to DC Locomotives, which require brush changes and other maintenance support. Finally, the Evolution Series locomotives have dynamic brakes (in addition to air brakes), which reduce wheel and brake shoe wear by an estimated 20-40% depending upon usage.

Evolution Series Locomotive

The Evolution Series Locomotive, introduced in 2005, represents a $400 million investment by GE over eight years.

The Evolution Series Locomotive is one of GE's most prominent ecomagination(SM)products. Ecomagination is a GE-wide initiative to help meet customer demand for more energy-efficient products.

More than 3,200 Evolution Locomotives are operating in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, Australia, Kazakhstan and Egypt. Approximately 17,000 GE locomotives, including Evolution Series Locomotives, are in use in more than 50 countries around the world. GE Transportation's Evolution Series success story serves as a powerful reminder that free trade and open markets worldwide sustain businesses and employment opportunities in North America and beyond.

About GE Transportation

Established more than 100 years ago, GE Transportation, a business unit of GE (GE, Trade ), is a global technology leader and supplier to the railroad, marine, drilling, mining and wind power industries. GE provides freight and passenger locomotives, railway signaling and communications systems, information technology solutions, marine engines, motorized drive systems for mining trucks and drills, high-quality replacement parts and value added services. GE Transportation is headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, and employs approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. For more information visit http://www.getransportation.com/ .

SOURCE: GE Transportation


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