High altitude freight locomotives ordered

TIN news: Following 27 months of in-service testing with two prototypes, at the end of January CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive was awarded a contract to supply a production batch of 80 HXD1C locomotives which will be used to haul heavy freight trains on the 1 000 km Lanzhou – Xining – Golmud route in western China.
 
The 25 kV 50 Hz locomotives rated at 7·2 MW are intended to haul trains of 3 000 to 5 000 tonnes at speeds up to 120 km/h. They will incorporate 17 modifications from standard designs to make them better suited for use at high altitudes and in the harsh environment, including adapted ventilation and cooling systems and changes to  accommodate strong solar radiation, wind and sand.