On March 12, 2007, CNR Datong Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. has signed a contract in Beijing for a total amount of around 1.1 billion euros with the Alstom and Chinese Ministry of railways, for the manufacture of electric freight locomotives.
The contract, which follows a letter of intent signed in October 2006, is for the manufacture of 500 electric freight Co-Co (triple axle) locomotives based on Alstom Transport s Prima 6000. The power of locomotive is 9,600 kW and the single axle power is 1,600 kW. A locomotive is able to pull convoys weighing up to 8000 tons and moving at speeds close to 140 km/h.
Alstom will be responsible for designing and industrialising these locomotives. Alstom s Belfort (France) plant, the Group s worldwide locomotive and engineering centre of excellence, will produce the first 10 locomotives and the components to be integrated into the 190 following ones, while this production will be gradually localised to its Chinese partner, CNR Datong Electric Locomotives. This company has already partnered Alstom in a 2005 contract to manufacture 180 BoBo electric (twin axle) locomotives.
