Manufacturers of the New Urals Electric Locomotive Will Carry Losses for Two Years

27.04.2009 — News

THE SVERDLOVSK OBLAST.

In 2009 JSC Russian Railways will buy 25 new generation electric cargo train locomotives manufactured by OAO Urals Plant of Railway Machine Building. By 2011 the plant will increase the production of electric locomotives up to 120 units per year.

Vladimir Yakunin, President of the Russian Railways, visited the Plant on 27 April and said that, according to the technical upgrade program, the Russian Railways must buy 1,000 locomotives a year; however, Russian companies can only supply a maximum of 600 units currently. All electric locomotives made in the Urals will be in demand.

The total cost of the new locomotive production project in the OAO Urals Plant of Railway Machine Building amounts to 5.2 billion roubles. The first line joins 17 areas equipped for the production of components, assembly, and painting the locomotives. The equipment was supplied by Okuma, Kitamura Machinery, Mori Seiki (Japan), and Union (Germany). The line's annual production capacity is 60 locomotives.

The company informed RusBusinessNews that the new model employs the whole range of new engineering solutions previously unknown in Russia's locomotive building industry. The plant produces a half of aggregates and modules for the locomotive onsite. More than 60 Russian manufactures are engaged in the cooperation supplies, a third of these are located in the Urals Region. It is planned to commission another assembly line at OAO Urals Plant of Railway Machine Building and to reach the production level of up to 120 locomotives by the end of 2010. This production volume will make the plant profitable.