OREANDA-NEWS. The total run of dual-voltage Class EP20 passenger electric locomotives, jointly developed by Transmashholding and Alstom and built at Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NEVZ, a part of Transmashholding), exceeds 10 million km.

At present, 44 of Class EP20 locomotives are operated by OAO RZD. All of them are allocated to Moskva-Sortirovochnaya-Ryazanskaya depot (TCh-6). They are in service on Moscow, Oktyabrskaya, and North-Caucasian Railways, which includes EP20s applied to haul train sets formed of double-deck cars on the road Moscow-Adler.

EP20 is the first Russian electric locomotive capable of hauling passenger trains at speeds up to 200 km/h. Locomotives of this type were not produced yet in Russia. The locomotive can be operated both on AC and DC electrified lines. If the road runs through sections using different types of current, no locomotive replacement is needed thus saving travel time and railway personnel labour.

EP20 is developed by experts of TRTrans joint engineering center (established by TMH and Alstom Transport on a parity basis). The locomotive is equipped with an asynchronous traction drive. Implemented technical solutions allow to reduce the amount of maintenance by several times, increase the run between repairs, save electric power significantly, and enhance the haulage capacity. The vehicle has a block-modular layout, which facilitates the maintenance process.

The modular-type cabin of EP20 complies with up-to-date safety, ergonomics, driver's comfort, and aesthetics requirements. Due to careful elaboration of ergonomic configuration, a state-of-the-art cabin shape and design of the locomotive crew's working place were elaborated in conformance with the world's trends. A number of new technical solutions were applied in the course of the driver's cab development, which includes the HVAC system with heating and air conditioning functions to maintain predetermined temperature in the cabin.

In compliance with a signed contract, OAO RZD is to receive 200 Class EP20 passenger dual-voltage electric locomotives by 2020.