The Russian manufacturer Ural Locomotives, part of the Sinara – Transport Machines (STM) holding company, has completed the acceptance process for the new Orlet electric locomotive designed for freight transport.
Approval was granted after a specialized commission confirmed that the locomotive meets all technical requirements and safety standards for rail transport. Following the evaluation, the launch of an initial series of 50 2ES11 Orlet AC locomotives was approved.
The acceptance commission consisted of representatives from Russian Railways (RZD), relevant research institutes, and equipment suppliers. The specialists reviewed the technical documentation and the results of tests conducted between December 2025 and June 2026 on the test track at the National Research Institute of Railway Transport in Shcherbinka.
Prior to the official tests, the locomotive covered over 5,000 km during trial runs, reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h, to verify the operation of all systems and components.
The testing program included evaluations of traction performance and energy consumption, thermal and dynamic behavior, braking systems, electromagnetic compatibility, and the integration of on-board equipment. In addition, the lighting systems, comfort conditions in the engineer’s cab, fire suppression systems, compliance with occupational safety standards, and the ergonomics of the driver’s station were evaluated.
Locomotive 42% More Powerful Than the Previous Generation
The new AC-powered locomotive delivers 42% more power than previous generations. In its two-section configuration, it can haul trains weighing up to 7,100 metric tons, and in the version with an additional booster section, it can haul trains weighing up to 9,000 metric tons.
According to the manufacturer, the model offers a high level of reliability thanks to the redundancy of the traction systems, while the modular architecture and the new equipment cooling system facilitate maintenance operations and reduce repair time.
After obtaining certification of compliance with the technical regulations of the Eurasian Customs Union, the plant will begin production of the initial batch of 50 2ES11 Orleț electric locomotives.
The 2ES11 model is the second vehicle in the new range of locomotives developed on the 2ES8 “Malahit” platform, equipped with a Russian-made asynchronous traction system. The locomotive was named “Orleț,” the regional name in the Ural Mountains for the mineral rhodonite, continuing the manufacturer’s tradition of naming new locomotives after minerals specific to the region. In some regions of the Urals, “Orleț” is the popular name for rhodonite, a pink semiprecious stone.
Share on:
