RUSSIA: Russian Railways and Sinara Transport Machines have agreed a firm order for the supply and life-cycle maintenance of 200 2TE35A twin-section main line freight diesel locomotives able to haul trains of up to 7 100 tonnes.
This follows a framework agreement for the supply of 2ES6A eight-axle twin-section DC electric freight locomotives and 2TE35A diesel locos which was agreed in November 2020, marking the electric and shunting locomotive supplier’s entry into the main line diesel locomotive market.
The 16-axle 2TE35A is a new model which STM has designed as part of its 2025 development programme and according to RZD’s terms of reference. There is a focus on domestic content, with ‘almost every component’ being developed in co-operation with Russian suppliers, including the EU Stage IIIA compliant 3 650 kW 16DM-185T engines which are to be produced by STM’s Ural Diesel Engine Plant. The locos will have TAD430 asynchronous traction motors from STM’s Traction Components business.
The locos are to be produced in Verkhnyaya Pyshma near Yekaterinburg by the Ural Locomotives joint venture of Sinara and Siemens which was established in 2010 to produce electric locomotives and Lastochka (Desiro RUS) electric multiple-units.
The first two 2TE35A locomotives are scheduled to begin trial operation in 2022. Series deliveries to RZD’s Far East and East Siberia regions are to run until 2031, and the manufacturer will also build the associated servicing infrastructure.
‘The procurement by RZD of unique Russian 2TE35A diesel locomotives is an important step in the development of domestic railway engineering’, said STM Deputy General Director for Sales Anton Zubikhin when the order was announced on June 9. He said the production of main line diesel locomotives was a new market for STM, and he believes there is ‘serious sales potential’ in the 1 520 mm gauge region for the design which complies with ‘the most advanced international standards and environmental criteria’.
