China develops highQQpower electric locomotive

China has developed a high-power electric locomotive, marking a major breakthrough in the countrys railway technology.

Dubbed Shen-24, the locomotive has a maximum speed of 120 kph and can pull a 10,000-ton freight train on a 1.2 percent slope.

The locomotive was jointly developed by CRRC Zhuzhou and China Energy Investment Corporation. It is composed of six sections and is 106 meters long.

File photo/Hua Ang (NBD)

On Wednesday, an electric locomotive with a single-unit power of 28,800 kW and a traction force of 2,280 kN rolled off the production line of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd.

After delivery, the locomotive will run on Shenmu-Shuozhou Railway in coal-rich provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi. The railway is one of the main energy-transportation arteries in the country.

Merely increasing the number of power units can not achieve ultra-high power and ultra-high traction in locomotives, said Liu Youmei, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, adding that it requires a comprehensive innovation of the system.

The locomotive is not only more powerful but also smarter, safer and more environmental-friendly than previous models, said Wang Wei, a manager with CRRC Zhuzhou.