OREANDA-NEWS. September 04, 2013. Three new O'ZEL series electric freight locomotives arrived at the Tashkent-Central railway station. The important occasion was dedicated to the 22nd anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Representatives of Uzbekiston temir yollari State joint stock railways company, various ministries and agencies, foreign companies, diplomatic corps, and the press attended the presentation of new electric freight locomotives.

Currently our country possesses huge transport-communication and transit potential, connecting the East and the West, the South and the North with highways. During independence years new railway lines, modern railway stations have been constructed, electric railway lines have been put into operation and the former railway lines have been electrified. Upgrading the locomotive fleet and rolling stock have been given special attention.

According to A.Ramatov, chairman of the Board of the Uzbekiston temir yollari state joint-stock railways company, purchase of 11 electric freight cars in line with the decree of President Islam Karimov “On accelerating development of infrastructure, transport and communications construction in 2011-2015” dated from 21 December 2010 has been a logical continuation of further development of railways sector in our country. The purchase was made possible within the framework of economic cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the People’s Republic of China.

The total amount of the project comprises 47,3 US dollars. A syndicate of Chinese CNTIC (China National Technical Import & Export Corporation) and the CNR DLRC (CNR Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. Ltd) are suppliers. Three new electric freight locomotives have already arrived in Tashkent, the other 8 will be received by the Uzbekiston temir yollari at the end of this year.

Uzbekiston temir yollari says that in selecting suppliers a special attention have been given to creation of favorable conditions during exploitation, technical maintenance and repairs of the electric locomotives. Thanks to joint efforts of Uzbek and Chinese specialists the issues of general composition, microprocessor management system, structure of the body and trolleys, pneumatic brake system, traction motors and transformers, safety systems and after-sales maintenance were rapidly solved.

As a result of joint efforts the sides decided to increase power from 6000 to 7200 kW and traction from 450 to 450 до 490 kN.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan B.Zakirov spoke at the ceremony.