Annual Report 2010 - Knorr-Bremse AG.

48 RepoR t | RAIL Ve HICLe SYSteMS
Strong demand from China in particular has driven up exports by North American locomotive builders. In
the year under review this was reflected in orders of CCB II microprocessor-controlled braking systems for
the Chinese market. By the year’s end, some 1,800 CCB II systems had been supplied.
Knorr-Bremse is also involved in a major order that the US conglomerate General Electric (GE) received in
South Africa: South African rail operator Transnet Freight Rail ordered 100 new diesel locomotives from GE,
and by the end of 2010, NYAB had supplied 18 CCB II brake control systems to GE for this project, with the
remaining 82 to follow in 2011. In addition, NYAB also supplied a further 20 CCB II systems to Union Carriage
& Wagon (UCW) destined for South African operator Transnet, the parent company of Transnet
Freight Rail. Again, most of the systems are to be delivered in further batches during the course of the current
year. NYAB is also involved in GE orders from Brazil, for which Knorr-Bremse also supplied over
100 CCB II systems.
For the Canadian locomotive builder Electro Motive Diesel (EMD), NYAB supplied not only CCB II systems
but also the EP 60 electro-pneumatic braking system for some of the locomotives ordered. The same applied
to 25 locomotives ordered from EMD by Saudi rail operator SRO (Saudi Railway Organisation).
EP-60 for Australian freight trains
In addition to supplying EP-60 for the locomotives being built by EMD, Knorr-Bremse also received
orders from Australia for the electro-pneumatic braking system. By the end of 2010, the company’s
subsidiary NYAB had equipped more than 1,000 Australian freight cars with EP-60 systems, and a total
of four different operators were operating the system on a trial basis.
The EP-60 braking system considerably improves the braking of long, heavy freight trains because the
braking signal is transmitted electrically rather than pneumatically from the locomotive to the freight
cars, only being converted into a pneumatic signal when it reaches the bogie. This avoids a situation
where the front cars are braked first but the delay in signal transmission means the rear cars continue
to shunt them.
Largest order ever for Knorr Brake Corporation
For the new trains operated by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in Washington
DC, Knorr-Bremse is supplying the brakes (including oil-free compressors) and the HVAC systems. The
braking systems are being developed in Westminster, while Knorr-Bremse’s Spanish subsidiary Merak is
responsible for the design and development of the HVAC. The North American division of Knorr Brake
Corporation, Merak NA, will produce the HVAC units. The contract concluded with the Japanese manufacturer
of the vehicles, Kawasaki, is the largest North American project in the history of Knorr Brake
Corporation.
The order covers the equipment for 364 cars with an option for 384 more. The first car-sets are scheduled
for delivery as early as 2012, with series production slated for the period from 2013 to 2015. The new
trains will boost transportation capacity for what, in terms of passenger numbers, is the second largest
metro in the United States. By 2030, WMATA anticipates carrying an average of one million passengers a
day. Metro Washington DC has also ordered a further 180 oil-free compressors for retrofitting in existing
car-sets.