The BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has placed an order for 13 heavy-haul E40AC type locomotives. BMA will use these for transporting coal between the Caval Ridge and Daunia mines and the Hay Point Coal Terminal in Queensland, Australia. With the help of the most powerful narrow-gauge electric locomotives in the world, BMA will be able to haul approximately 15 million tons of coal per year from pit to port. The contract with BMA will raise the number of the Siemens E40AC locomotives operating on the Australian coal rail network to 100. The locomotives will be manufactured and tested at the Siemens plant in Munich.
This type of locomotive has been designed for heavy-haul freight service. Each unit coal train consists of three E40AC locomotives and 124 cars and carries a payload of approximately 11,000 metric tons. With a maximum power rating of 4,000 kW and continuous tractive effort of 450 kN up to 32 km/h, the E40AC is the most powerful narrow-gauge electric locomotive in the world. It is equipped with an AAR-type brake system, hardwired and wireless remote control systems, as well as an electronically controlled pneumatic brake system.
The E40AC's electrical equipment was adopted from the refurbished Class 3700 locomotives. Sixty-three 3100 / 3200 type locomotives were upgraded with Siemens' three-phase AC propulsion technology.
The electric brake system of the E40AC can feed back train brake power into the catenary system, not only enabling significant annual energy savings, but also resulting significant reduced CO2 emissions.
Designed as a heavy-haul locomotive, the E40AC is ideally suited for the narrowgauge systems used in Australia and South Africa. The car body has been built to absorb tensile and compression forces of up to 4 MN and is equipped with an AAR Ftype coupler and an anti-climber and provides enhanced cab protection for crew safety.
The bogie is a development of Siemens Graz. The frame is a welded structure which integrates all the connecting points for the traction system, drive units and bogie brake equipment. The frames of the center bogies and end bogies are interchangeable. Bogie brake equipment consists of one tread brake unit per wheel,
the parking brakes being installed on the center bogie.
In March 2006, Queensland Rail awarded a contract for the supply of 20 new E40AC locomotives. An order for a further 25 locomotives followed in August 2007.
Australia's largest private rail freight operator, Pacific National, has ordered 42 units in a number of batches. The new contract will expand the fleet of E40AC locomotives operating on the Australian coal network to 100.