Published: July 13, 2009
GE Transportation and Egyptian National Railways Announce the Completion of Commissioning of 80 Evolution Series Locomotives
ERIE, Pa. & CAIRO - (BUSINESS WIRE) - GE Transportation and the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) announced
today that the 80th and final Evolution Series locomotive has
been commissioned and was officially released to ENR at the end of June.
The commissioning process prepares locomotives to be released for
revenue service.
The locomotives have been successfully hauling freight and transporting
passengers over the past several months and have logged tens of
thousands of kilometers and transported hundreds of thousands of
passengers. This is the ENR's first order of GE's Evolution Series, the
most technologically advanced diesel electric, heavy-haul locomotive in
the world.
"The Evolution Series locomotives sold by GE Transportation to the
Egyptian National Railways provide a platform for rail growth, grounded
in high tractive effort, fuel savings and future emissions reductions,"
said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. "This is
one more milestone in a long and fruitful relationship with the Egyptian
National Railways."
"This is our first order of GE Evolution Series locomotives and I am
pleased to mark this milestone," said ENR Chairman, Eng. Mahmoud Sami.
"The Evolution Series locomotives will provide us with a platform to
grow our rail sector."
Best in class fuel efficiency and lower emissions
The Evolution Series locomotives will improve the efficiency of ENR's
operations in several ways. The locomotives provide best in class fuel
efficiency, as they have electronic fuel injection, which is superior to
mechanical fuel injection, a 40-year-old technology used on previous
locomotives. In head to head tests with competing products, GE's
locomotives have consistently proven to be more fuel efficient, in some
cases as much as 6% better. Thus, these locomotives will reduce ENR's
fuel consumption significantly, saving millions of Egyptian pounds
during their life span.
In addition to being more fuel-efficient, Evolution Series locomotives
generate significantly lower emissions than ENR's current fleet of
locomotives, resulting in a cleaner environment in Egypt.
Advanced AC traction technology
The Evolution Series locomotive, the first AC locomotive used by ENR, 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. The Evolution Series locomotives are the most
powerful locomotives in ENR fleet and will transport almost 30 percent
more passengers and 60 percent more wagons of freight compared to the
current locomotives.
In addition, these locomotives provide measurably higher reliability and
lower maintenance costs. This is due to GE Transportation's AC
propulsion and control equipment, built at GE's North American
manufacturing plants, 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.
About the Evolution Series locomotive
The Evolution Series locomotive represents a $400 million investment by
GE over eight years and is one of GE's most prominent "Ecomagination"
products. Ecomagination is a GE-wide initiative to help meet customer
demand for more energy-efficient products while generating profitable
growth for the company.
The Evolution Series represent a proven, global locomotive platform.
Last year, GE Transportation delivered the first of 300, 6,000 GHP China
Mainline locomotives to the Ministry of Railways in China. Rio Tinto
Iron Ore received forty 4,400 GHP heavy haul Evolution Series
locomotives to support its mining operations in Australia's Pilbara
region in 2008. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy ordered 310 GE Evolution Series
locomotives.
GE in Egypt
GE has been present in Egypt since 1974. Through the years, GE has
partnered with government entities and private businesses on projects
across the country in various sectors such as power, healthcare and
transportation. Today, there are more than 100 employees working for GE
in Egypt. GE is committed to remaining a long-term partner in the
economic development of the country.
About GE Transportation
Established more than 100 years ago, GE Transportation, a unit of GE
(NYSE: GE), is a global technology leader and supplier to the railroad,
marine, drilling, mining and wind 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 www.getransportation.com.
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GE Transportation
Tom Scott, +1.33.635.249.233 (cell)
thomasxavier.scott@ge.com
or
Stephan
Koller, +1.814.875.3457 (office)
+1.814.431.3150 (cell)
stephan.koller@ge.com
OR
Hill
and Knowlton in Egypt
Christopher Larter, Direct Line: (+202)
2736 5571
Mobile/Cell: (+2) 010 111 2205
christopher.larter@hillandknowlton.com
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