News
2.11.2009
At present, an electric six-axle locomotive made by the French company ALSTOM and intended for China is being tested at the VUZ Test Centre Velim. A rarity on the Czech rails, this locomotive features a Co-Co axle arrangement and is therefore internally called CoCo China. With its dimensions and weight of 25 t per axle it surpasses other vehicles operated around Europe. That is why it could not be transported from its home factory in Belfort, France to the Test Centre by railway but, instead, it travelled by ship to Mělník and then continued in a lorry to the Velim Test Centre. Based on the ALSTOM PRIMA I type series with the corresponding panel, the locomotive is designed for the 25 kV 50 Hz system and its power is 10 MW. Its maximum speed is 120 km/h and total weight 150 t. The ALSTOM representatives will perform most of the tests required to launch the locomotive in operation, such as measuring the derailment safety, a brake test, noise level measurement, traction tests, and EDB and EMC tests in the Velim Test Centre. For traction tests and the EDB tests, a load train weighing 3000 t and consisting of 41 Fals cars loaded with coal will be used.