Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. (EMD) on Wednesday announced it has signed the contract with the Public Investment Fund - Ministry of Finance to manufacture a quantity of 25 SD70ACS heavy haul AC diesel electric locomotives for Saudi Railway Company (SAR). These units are specifically designated for used on the North - South line. They will carry minerals on over 1482km of newly constructed track, and are capable of dealing with some of the harshest desert environments including a 300 km across the Nofud desert. Delivery of the locomotives is scheduled to begin during the 2nd Quarter of 2010. This will bring the number of EMD locomotives operating in Saudi Arabia to 72 locomotives. The SD70ACS is a 4,500 BHP AC locomotive that includes an EMD IGBT AC drive system. This locomotive also features a pulse filtration system and movable sand plows on the pilot and trucks that makes the SD70ACS the ideal locomotive for the extreme desert environment of Saudi Arabia. These units are equipped with the EMD 710-T1 fuel-efficient diesel engine and the EM2000 microprocessor locomotive control system, as well as the ERTMS/ETCS train control equipment. The units are also equipped with FIRE(TM) display system. Crew comfort features that are being built into the locomotive are an isolated cab to reduce noise and vibration, air conditioning, as well as other features to make the locomotive a better and safer environment for the crew. As the majority of all diesel locomotives in the Middle East come from EMD, it is with that great wealth of experience that EMD has used in designing locomotives for excellent operational capabilities for SAR. Albert Enste, vice president International Sales & Service, said “Saudi Arabia is a key market for EMD in the Middle East region. EMD is committed to supplying the highest quality products and services to Saudi Railway Company (SAR), and we look forward to a long lasting relationship between our two companies on future opportunities.” SAR was established in 2006 to build, operate, and manage the north-south railway project. SAR is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of the Ministry of Finance. The overall objective of PIF/SAR is to ensure timely implementation of operating North-South Railway to carry Ma'aden's mineral traffic in an economical fashion from mines at Al Jalamid and Az Zabirah to industrial facilities in RasAzZawr. In addition, it is planned to operate passenger and general freight between Riyadh and Al Haditha on the Jordanian Border. Founded in 1922, Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. is one of two US original equipment manufacturers of diesel-electric locomotives. Headquartered in LaGrange, Illinois, with additional facilities in London, Ontario, Canada, EMD designs, manufactures and sells diesel
