OREANDA-NEWS. May 15, 2007. The Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NEVZ, Rostov Region) has launched the serial production of the 2ES5KB freight AC locomotive.

The 2ES5KB is a 2ES5K Ermak derivative, the latter under serial production at the plant since 2006. The 2ES5KB, unlike the base model, has a booster (intermediate) section, which is located between the locomotive head sections raising its power from 6,560 kW to 10,000 kW. The new locomotive is capable of leading superheavy trains on the steep slope track sections. This will cut the time loss for the trains rebuilding before mountain tracks, reduce the man-hours at the stations and the shipment time.

As of now, the second locomotive has been produced. Only three-section Ermak locomotives are scheduled for the plant production until the close of 2007. This year will see the production of 24 locomotives of the kind (72 sections).

The plant plans to build a total of 175 (235 sections) of main line and industrial electric locomotives of 8 various models in 2007. The passenger and freight main line electric locomotives will be manufactured by the CJS Russian Railways order, the industrial electric locomotives will be built for mining and metallurgical enterprises.

The Ermak booster section was certified in January, 2007. The tests results proved that the new section met the technical and safety requirements.