700th EP1M Electric Locomotive has been Produced

Novocherkassk electric locomotive plant has completed production of 700th EP1M AC passenger electric locomotive built under the order of JSC Russian Railways. The plant will produce 7 more locomotives of this series before the end of the year.

700th EP1М locomotive will be assigned to Rossosh depot of Yugo-Vostochnaya Railway. EP1М series electric locomotives are produced by NEVZ since 2007 having substituted EP1 locomotives. First of all on Russian railways EP1M replaces ChS4 electric locomotives, which were purchased from Czechoslovakia in 1963 – 1972.

Opposed to electric locomotives of previous series there is a modular driver’s cab installed on the modern locomotive which meets all modern ergonomics requirements and safety standards. Front and side windows of the cab are equipped with electrical heating. Microclimate system provides an efficient cab’s heating or cooling establishing comfortable working conditions for the locomotive crew. A general-purpose automatic driving system of passenger rolling stock is applied in the electric locomotive structure, which enables to drive the train according to the set mode with consideration of railway structure parameters. The control system enables the driver to drive the locomotive without an assistant when necessary.

Starting with 696th the colour scheme of EP1M electric locomotives was changed. Taking the client’s [JSC RZD] requirements into consideration a design corresponding to the company’s corporate style was adopted. Light blue used to be the main colour for electric locomotives painting at the enterprise, now grey and red have become the prevailing ones.

EP1M series electric locomotives are operated on Severo-Kavkazskaya, Yugo-Vostochnaya, Oktyabrskaya, Zabaykalskaya and Gorkovskaya railways and are proved as reliable equipment. 56 EP1M electric locomotives were produced in the first six months of 2011.

Photo & Source : TMHolding