TE33A

TE33A
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGeneral Electric Transportation, JSC Lokomotiv
Build date2009-present
Total produced276
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in)
Prime moverGEVO 12-cylinder[1]
Engine typeDiesel engine
Performance figures
Maximum speed120 km/h (160 km/h for planned passenger version)
Career
OperatorsKTZ, Azerbaijan Railways, Ulaanbaatar Railway, Kyrgyz Railways, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Moldovan Railways, Ukrainian Railways

The TE33A (ТЭ33А) is a type of diesel locomotive developed by GE Transportation Systems for 1,520 mm gauge railways. It is part of the GE Evolution Series family.

Following the delivery of an initial 10 locomotives from GE's plant at Erie, Pennsylvania, in the US, TE33A locomotives are being assembled from kits by the JSC Lokomotiv subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy at a new factory in Astana which was opened by President Nursultan Nazarbayev on 3 July 2009.[2]

Specification[edit]

The TE33A was designed for the 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) Russian gauge market, in particular to replace the 2TE10. Russian GOST Standards and Safety Norms were used in development, and the locomotive is designed to use standard GOST fuel and lubricants.[3]

The locomotives have two cabs, and are among the first diesel-electric locomotives with AC traction motors to operate in the Commonwealth of Independent States[4] (after the 2TE25A built by Bryansk Engineering Works, Transmashholding, Russia).[5]

The TE33A is certified by the UIC to meet EU IIIa emissions standards, and reduce particulate emissions by approximately 75% and NOx emissions by 35% per kilowatt-hour when compared to a 2TE10.[1]

Orders[edit]

Kazakhstan[edit]

Freight locos[edit]

In September 2006 Kazakhstan Temir Zholy placed a US$650m order for 310 locomotives.[6] The first 10 were built in GE's Erie, Pennsylvania, plant while the remaining 300 are being assembled in Astana.[2]

Passenger locos[edit]

At InnoTrans on 19 September 2012 KTZ ordered 110 locomotives to be delivered from 2014 for use on passenger trains. These will have a higher maximum speed of 160 km/h.[7]

Estonia[edit]

In 2010 Vopak EOS, the owner of Estonian Railway Services, began negotiations to buy TE33A locomotives.[8] A TE33A was sent to Estonia in December 2011 for five months of testing. On 22 May 2013 a contract for 15 locomotives was signed by Vopak EOS.[8] In 2015 the order was reported to have been cancelled.[9]

Kyrgyzstan[edit]

Kyrgyz Railways TE33A-0253 at an unidentified station in April 2016

On 3 July 2012 Kyrgyz Railways ordered five TE33A locomotives.[10]

Moldova[edit]

In November 2018, Moldovan operator Calea Ferată din Moldova ordered 12 TE33A locomotives for delivery in 2020, with major components built in the United States and final assembly in Moldova.[11]

Mongolia[edit]

In 2009 a single US-built TE33A was supplied to Mongolia Railway.[12] As of 2013, further orders were expected.[8]

Russia[edit]

By 2013, discussions were held to sell TE33As to Yakutian Railway and Eurosib (the latter with up to 50 locomotives).[8]

Tajikistan[edit]

Tajik-Railway-Rohi-Ohani Tajikistan

In November 2011 Tajikistan's national railway ordered six locomotives, which were delivered in early 2012. These were the first locomotives to be exported from the Astana factory.[13]

Ukraine[edit]

In May 2013 cement and construction materials supplier JSC Ivano-Frankivsk ordered a single TE33A locomotive. It was delivered in October 2013.[14] In February 2018, state-owned operator Ukrainian Railways ordered 30 TE33A locomotives for delivery from the United States within two years and components to assemble up to 195 more locomotives on Ukraine during the following decade.[15] In September 2018 (the February 2018 ordered) TE33A's started to arrive in Ukraine.[16]

Turkmenistan[edit]

In 2014, Turkmenistan purchased one locomotive.[17] It was used in the opening ceremony of the new railway Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran.[18]

Azerbaijan[edit]

On 3 August 2015 Azerbaijan Railways took delivery of TE33A-0287, the first of 10 TE33A locos which are being leased from the Development Bank of Kazakhstan subsidiary DBK Leasing.[9]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Kazakhstan Evolution ES44ACi Locomotive" (Press release). GE Transportation.
  2. ^ a b "President opens Astana locomotive plant". Railway Gazette International. 6 July 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009.
  3. ^ "GE Transportation's Evolution Series Locomotive ready for Russia and 1520-area market" (Press release). GE Transportation. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Evolution grabs hold in Kazakhstan". Railway Age. 2006-09-28. Archived from the original on August 22, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
  5. ^ "Photo of the ТЭ33А-0007 in Almaty". Archived from the original on 11 September 2012.
  6. ^ "GE signs $500m Kazakh locomotive service deal". Railway Gazette International. 29 May 2009.
  7. ^ "GE Transportation enters the 1520 passenger market". Railway Gazette International. 19 September 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d "Estonian operator orders Kazakh-built locomotives". Railway Gazette International. 22 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  9. ^ a b "First TE33A locomotive for Azerbaijan handed over". Railway Gazette International. 4 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Kyrgyz Railways orders Evolution locomotives". Railway Gazette International. 12 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Moldova taps GE for new power". Railway Age. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. ^ "GE Transportation delivers locomotive to Mongolia". Railway Gazette International. 24 September 2009.
  13. ^ "Tajik Railways takes delivery of Evolution locomotives". Railway Gazette International. 23 February 2012.
  14. ^ "World rolling stock market November 2013". Railway Gazette International. 16 November 2013.
  15. ^ "GE and Ukrainian Railways sign US$1bn locomotive agreement". Railway Gazette International. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  16. ^ Another 7 General Electric locomotives Trident arrive in Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (26 September 2018)
  17. ^ "АО "ЛОКОМОТИВ ҚҰРАСТЫРУ ЗАУЫТЫ" РАСШИРЯЕТ ГЕОГРАФИЮ ЭКСПОРТА" (in Russian). JSC Lokomotiv. 21 November 2014.
  18. ^ "Landlocked Central Asia gets shorter railway link to Persian Gulf". Reuters. 3 December 2014.