In September 2005 EMD signed an agreement with the Chinese Ministry of Railways (MoR) and Dalian Locomotive Works (DLoco) for the supply of three hundred 6,000 horsepower locomotives, EMD's most powerful diesel-electric locomotive. The locomotives feature the latest heavy haul traction systems used on North America's major Class l railways and are being jointly designed and manufactured with DLoco under a technology license in Dalian, China.
Detailed design work is currently ongoing to make the locomotives applicable for use by the MoR. Teams are also developing the production plans for the portion of the locomotives that will be manufactured in China. These efforts will result in the first locomotives being available for testing in China in the latter half of 2007 with full production running over the following two years.
The locomotives will be powered by EMD's 16-cylinder 6,000 hp engine, will use the latest AC traction drive systems and will be capable of meeting USA EPA Tier 2 emissions regulations, making
them some of the most environmentally friendly locomotives in the world.