It is reported that Russian Railways, Transmashholding and the French company Alstom Transport signed a memorandum of understanding on developing an AC freight locomotive with a 2ES5 asynchronous traction motor on September 21st at the international InnoTrans 2010 exhibition in Berlin.

The document was signed by Russian Railways President Mr Vladimir Yakunin, Transmashholding President Mr Andrey Bokarev and Alstom Transport President Mr Philippe Mellier. In line with the document, the locomotives will be completed in Russia at the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant.

Key components of the locomotive, including traction equipment, will be localized at Russian companies. A prototype of the locomotive is scheduled to be ready in April 2011. The signing of a supply contract is scheduled for autumn 2011. The new long-distance new-generation AC freight locomotive will allow Russian Railways to raise the efficiency of its traction rolling stock.

(Sourced from http://eng.rzd.ru)