Russian Railways, RZD, announced that new 2ES7 mainline electric train was tested for its traction and power on the Taishet – Taksimo stretch at East Siberian Railways during October-November 2016. As a result of these tests, it was concluded that the mass of the trains pulled could be increased, while at the same time reducing operating costs by 12%.
Since November 2016, this locomotive has hauled 30 heavy trains weighing 6,000 tons along the Baikal-Amur Main Line.
Earlier on the Baikal-Amur Main Line, trains with such a weight hauled three-section Ermak 3ES5K locomotives with 12 traction axles and a total capacity of 9.84 MW.
The 2ES7 locomotive, which has a capacity of 8.8 MW and eight-axle traction, successfully hauled a train weighing 6,000 tons along a similar stretch between Taishet – Taksimo and used on average 25% less electrical power thanks to an improved booster system on the 2ES7 and the traction characteristics of asynchronous electric motors.
The Taishet – Taksimo stretch combines a whole range of factors that impede the operation of locomotives, including a large number of passes and tight curves, air temperature ranging from plus 50°C in the summer to minus 50°C in the winter, while heavy snowfall on the rails complicates movement along the tracks in winter.
The 2ES7 is Russia’s first mainline electric freight AC asynchronous motor drive. Created at the Ural Locomotives plant in 2013, it utilizes an asynchronous traction motor, which gives the locomotive high pulling power.
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