The locomotive delivery includes a total of 156 complete mechanical traction drives (six for each locomotive), which include the engine, gearbox, and wheelset. The machines will operate in the harsh conditions of the Central Asian region and will have to withstand extreme temperature ranges from minus 55 to plus 55 degrees Celsius.
"Locomotives have to cope with the very difficult conditions in Kazakhstan. So there is a huge emphasis on quality and durability. I am glad that with this order we are proving that we can succeed with our products on a global scale and with the most important customers in the world," explains Jaromír Šilhánek, President of the Electrical Systems and Components product line at Škoda Group.
All drives will undergo a system of tests and trials before being put into service - although the locomotives are designed for Kazakhstan, they are approved according to very demanding Russian norms and GOST standards. For example, the company has to successfully prove the durability of both individual parts and complete sets, which means testing the complete drive including the gearbox and wheelset. The new locomotives are assembled directly in Kazakhstan.
Škoda Group is providing this deal in cooperation with engineering giant Wabtec. Škoda has already supplied the American company with equipment for more than 50 locomotives in recent years.
