Bangladesh taps Progress Rail for GT Series power
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Bangladesh Railways has ordered 40 EMD GT42ACL broad-gauge locomotives from Progress Rail—the first broad-gauge locomotives the company has supplied to Bangladesh.
Rated at 3,250 braking horsepower and equipped with the EM2000™ microprocessor control and AC traction, the locomotives “will provide significant fuel efficiency advantages, lower emissions, the latest safety features, as well as notable haulage capacity and reliability,” the company said.
EMD GT42AC locomotives operating in Peru.
“Progress Rail, through our historic EMD brand, delivered our first meter-gauge locomotive to Bangladesh Railway in 1953,” said Progress Rail CEO Billy Ainsworth. “Since then, we have supplied more than 150 meter-gauge locomotives directly and through partners to the region. We are honored to be chosen again by the railway to assist in the future growth and development of Bangladesh, this time with an important focus on the broad-gauge rail network.”
“The 40 broad-gauge locomotives will be critical to the growth and improved efficiency of Bangladesh Railway,” Additional Director General Rolling Stock of Bangladesh Railway Md Shamsuzzaman said. “Progress Rail has supplied locomotives to Bangladesh Railways for more than 60 years, and we look forward to working with Progress Rail on the delivery of these 40 state-of-the-art locomotives.”
EMD supplied 21 Class 2700 meter-gauge JT18U6 locomotives to Bangladesh Railway from 1994 to 1996.
