The state railway administration (Ukrzaliznytsia) and Skoda Transportation (Czech Republic) are completing the development of the technical design specifications for future production of dual-system passenger electric locomotives for operation in Ukraine, the press service of Ukrzaliznytsia has announced.
The dual-system electric locomotives are planned for production at a Ukrainian-Czech joint venture that will be established with the participation of Skoda Transportation and the Zaporozhye electric locomotive factory.
The package of documents for establishment of the joint venture is currently being prepared and options for financing construction of an assembly and test facility for the electric locomotives at the Zaporozhye factory are being considered.
In total, 480 electric locomotives are planned for production during implementation of the project, including 50 dual-system passenger locomotives, 330 single-system passenger locomotives, and 100 dual-system freight locomotives. The proportion of Ukrainian components used in the production of the electric components is expected to be increased to 90%. Components produced by scores of Ukrainian manufacturers of railway products are already expected to be used in the first electric locomotives, said Ukrzaliznytsia.
The railway administration also said that the dual-system locomotives would save human resources because it would not be necessary to use an additional locomotive crew (a driver and an assistant driver) for transportation, as is the case when during replacement of a single-system electric locomotive at the connecting points of various power systems.
