Railcolor: In 2011, TRTrans (Alstom + Transmashholding) officially presented the first sibling of their new multi-functional locomotive platform for the 1520 mm (Russia and CIS) market. We are talking about the EP20 series, a Bo'Bo'Bo' dual-system electric with an asynchronous propulsion system. The prototype of this series, of which 200 units are on order, was outshopped late 2010. It is not easy to look-over the EP20-001, because of its unique, multicolored livery.

EP20-002 is different. It has the standard livery of the RZD, red and two tones of gray. The assembly of EP20-002 was completed at the Transmashholding Novocherkassk Locomotive Building Plant (NEVZ) this March. It then left for the VNIIZT test ring in Scherbinka. It will have to complete a 5.000 km trial in service, a important part of the approval process in Russia.

In parallel, tests with the EP20-001 take place. It is used for dynamic trials with speeds of 120 and 160 kph. According to the current planning, the EP20 will get its compliance certificate in September 2012. (Serie)delivery to the Russian railways (RZD) should then start in the fourth quarter.

Derailment of EP20-001
The test program of EP20-001 however was interrupted on 27.05.2012, when the locomotive (pushing its train) derailed at Belorechenskaya-Maikop. Together with EP10-008 and laboratory-car 018 the engine had to make an emergency stop at a speed of 120 kph. It took around 300 meters and a dead end track to stop get the train. The EP10-008 and the laboratory car ended in the sand..

Two cranes were called in to recover the train, so that the damage could be evaluated. Now the damage needs to be evaluated.

sources: http://lokomotivishim.ucoz.ru / TMH / YZ / MT