GE Transportation last week announced the signing of an agreement with Cosan, a grower and processor of sugar cane and ethanol and sugar producer, to deliver 50 new AC44i locomotives for freight transport starting in 2010 through Rumo, Cosan's subsidiary for logistics operations. Cosan will use the new locomotives to haul sugar from its processing plants to port on the rail infrastructure provided by its partner America Latina Logistica (ALL).
The AC44i locomotives are powered by diesel engines supplied by GE Transportation's manufacturing plant in Grove City, Pennsylvania. The locomotives feature AC individual-axle traction-control technology that enables them to haul heavier loads by significantly reducing slippage on start-ups, inclines and suboptimal track conditions.
"The Model AC44i locomotives will be built by GE Transportation South America, GE Transportation's affiliate facility located in Contagem, Brazil. They are scheduled for delivery starting in 2010," said Guilherme Segalla de Mello, president and CEO of GE Transportation Latin America. Mello added, "GE Transportation South America has built diesel electric locomotives including AC44, Dash 9 and the C Series in Brazil since 1967, and has produced more than 1,000 locomotives that are operating in more than 15 countries around the world."