Engineering, procurement and construction contractor Bodi International has entered into an agreement with Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company, to purchase 16 EMD locomotives for Mongolia’s Tavantolgoi-Gashuunsukhait Railway project.

Construction on the 155-mile Tavantolgoi-Gashuunsukhait Railway, which will be operated by Mongolian-government-owned Tavan Tolgoi Railway Co., is expected to be completed in 2022.

The new locomotives are designed for the 1,520 mm (4 feet, 9.84 inch) broad gauge line and will be powered by 16-cyclinder EMD 710 Series units rated at 4,500 BHP (3,355 kW). The locos are compliant with International Union of Railways and EU Stage IIIA emissions standards. Progress Rail anticipates locomotive deliveries to begin in 2022.

The SD70ACe/LW for Mongolia is similar to units built for Russia, and competes directly with the Wabtec (GE) 4,400-hp unit for international markets sometimes offered under the model name TE33A.