Rolls-Royce has won a contract to supply MTU Series 4000 rail engines to China Railway Rolling Stock (CRRC).

The new deal will see Rolls-Royce deliver 15 20V 4000 R43 engines from July onwards, which are to be installed on-board 15 DL class freight locomotives for rail operator Kiwi Rail.

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The agreement represents the fourth time Kiwi Rail has selected CRRC locomotives powered by MTU engines since 2009.

Kiwi Rail currently owns 48 DL class diesel-electric locomotives.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems Industrial Business vice president Bernd Krüper said: “The fact that Kiwi Rail has again decided to place an order for CRRC-built freight locomotives equipped with powerful and cost-efficient engines from MTU is a tremendous mark of confidence.

“We are delighted to be continuing our partnerships with CRRC and Kiwi Rail.”

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"The fact that Kiwi Rail has again decided to place an order for CRRC-built freight locomotives equipped with engines from MTU is a tremendous mark of confidence."

Each EU Stage IIIA-compliant 20V 4000 R43 engine has the capacity to deliver 2,700kW of energy, while consuming a relatively low amount of fuel.

Kiwi Rail has deployed the 108tDL class locomotives to operate in New Zealand’s North Island since 2010.

These train services will run in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga cities.

The MTU brand is a part of Germany’s Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

Image: DL class freight locomotive. Photo: © Rolls-Royce plc.

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