GE Transportation just announced that Mongolian Railways has taken delivery and completed testing of its first Evolution Series Locomotive — which was produced at GE Transportation’s Erie, Pennsylvania plant. The Mongolia milestone is part of GE Transportation’s growing presence in the region, from the new Evolution model tailored for Russia’s rail gauge and harsh winters to the deals already inked with nearby Kazakhstan.
Going high-tech: Ulan Bator, pictured above, is the capital of Mongolia, which borders Russia to the north and China to south, east and west. Although it doesn’t share a border with Kazakhstan, only 24 miles separates them.
GE’s new relationship with Mongolian Railways, which leases locomotives and railcars to railway companies in Mongolia, is coming at a good time. As India’s Business Standard says, the country “could become a Dubai in the next ten years or so — at least that’s the expectation after the country’s Parliament recently passed a landmark package of laws that opens Mongolia’s huge mining reserves to big-time foreign investments.”
And the local UB Post recently noted that a new deal between Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar Railways and its investment partner could result in investment in the country’s rail infrastructure reaching up to $6.5 billion, including $2.2 billion on the modernization of the existing network, $400 million on renewing rolling stock, and $3.9 billion on building new tracks. GE’s Evolution locomotive will be leased to Ulaanbaatar Railway to increase hauling capability while reducing costs due to the Evolution’s fuel-efficient, low-emissions engine.
In the audio clip below, Bob Parisi, general manager of GE Transportation’s international locomotives business, explains the broader strategy driving the Mongolia deal.
Training day: The Evolution Locomotive that was just delivered is the most technologically advanced diesel-electric, heavy-haul locomotive to-date and is part of GE’s ecomagination line of more energy-efficient products. It’s path from Pennsylvania to Mongolia is part of GE Transportation’s push to pursue global free trade opportunites in the reset economy.
The Ulaanbaatar railway is an important gateway, connecting landlocked Mongolia with the countries of Europe, East Asia and South East Asia. The main railway route stretches from north to south connecting Moscow and Beijing. Mongolian Railways said it chose GE because of its technology — which provides better traction under the adverse conditions common to the region — and due to the lower costs of maintaing the engines over their lifetime. “In addition, GE offered a service support package with the locomotive that includes an on site Technical Adviser, spare parts and tools,” said A. Batbold, General Director of Mongolian Railways.
* Learn more about the Evolution Locomotive’s features in the announcement
* Read “GE’s fuel ‘autopilot’ software set for 200 locomotives” on GE Reports
* Learn more about GE’s display at the Russian Expo
* Learn about GE Energy’s new Russia service center
* Read “GE & Kazakhstan ink major rail service & plant deals” on GE Reports
* Read GE Reports’ story about its Evolution locomotive’s head-to-head fuel test
* Read “All aboard! Seattle’s light rail starts rolling with GE” on GE Reports
* Learn more about the Evolution series
* Learn about our Evolution Hybrid Locomotive
* Read about our newest model of the Evolution
* Watch a video of the Evolution being made and the 3,000th Evo dedication ceremony
