ERIE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Transportation today shipped a second batch of its award-winning PowerHaul Locomotives to customer Freightliner Group Ltd. in the United Kingdom. These five locomotives were manufactured at GE’s plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, and will join the first batch of seven that were placed in revenue service shortly after arrival in the U.K. in November 2009. The locomotives are part of a 30-unit order placed in 2007, the largest in Freightliner Group’s history.

The PowerHaul Series represents GE Transportation’s first entry to the UK and European market place. The PowerHaul Locomotive recently made its international debut at InnoTrans, the world’s largest rail trade show in Berlin, generating great interest among European as well as Asian railways.

“We are gratified that Freightliner already has been honored by the U.K. rail industry for their success in deploying GE’s new PowerHaul Series Locomotive,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. “It is a strong validation of our strategy of serving rail customers worldwide when the industry itself recognizes the PowerHaul performance advantage. We look forward to even more success for Freightliner with the addition of this latest shipment to their fleet.”

PowerHaul Locomotive Awards

In 2010 Freightliner Group received the following awards for PowerHaul:

• Freight Achievement of the Year Award from National Rail: http://www.natrailawards.co.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=2010+Winners&pid=55
• Technical Development Award from the Rail Freight Group: http://www.rfg.org.uk/rfgawards/
• Innovation Award from IFW: http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/awards.htm

Transport Schedule

The locomotives shipped by sea today from the Port of Erie to the Port of Newport in South Wales, U.K., and are anticipated to arrive early January.

Leading Technology

The PowerHaul Series Locomotive is GE’s most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and low-emissions diesel-electric freight locomotive to date.

The 129-ton PowerHaul Series locomotive is designed to generate more horsepower and tractive effort while lowering fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than locomotives currently in use. The locomotive features several leading technologies to achieve this performance including the new V16-cylinder, twin-turbo PowerHaul Series engine -- a product of ecomagination^SM. Ecomagination is a GE-wide initiative to help meet customer demand for more energy-efficient products.

This 3,700-horsepower engine is EU Stage IIIa emissions certified. Combined with other technologies the engine is projected to reduce PowerHaul locomotive fuel use by approximately 9% compared to current operating fleet averages. This fuel savings also will reduce GHG emissions over a typical duty cycle and overall operating costs.

GE’s unique AC individual-axle traction-control technology enables the PowerHaul Series to haul heavier loads by significantly reducing slippage on start-ups, inclines and suboptimal track conditions.

The PowerHaul Series also features dynamic braking in addition to air brakes to provide smoother handling when hauling heavier loads.

With GE’s traction advantage Freightliner now is able to save time and money by using a shorter, more direct route with a steeper incline for hauling coal on the Bristol-Rugeley power station run. This economical route was unusable by its older fleet locomotives that had to take a longer, indirect route because they could not cope with the incline.

Due to the PowerHaul locomotive’s increased hauling capability compared to its older fleet locomotives, Freightliner also is experimenting with up to 25% longer trains to reduce traffic congestion on the rail network such as on the North London line.

Globalization and International Trade

Approximately 17,000 GE locomotives are in use in more than 50 countries around the world. GE Transportation’s success story serves as a powerful reminder that free trade and open markets worldwide sustain businesses and employment opportunities in North America and beyond.

About GE Transportation

Established more than 100 years ago, GE Transportation, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a global technology leader and supplier to the railroad, marine, drilling, mining and wind power industries. GE Transportation provides freight and passenger locomotives, signaling and communications systems, information technology solutions, marine engines, motorized drive systems for mining trucks and drills, high-quality replacement parts and value added services. GE Transportation is headquartered in Erie, Penn., and employs approximately 8,000 employees worldwide. For more information visit www.getransportation.com.

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