Malakhit prepared for an introductory batch

On 21 June 2023 UL announced that the interdepartmental commission completed acceptance of the Class 3ES8 Malakhit locomotive for RZD.

In-depth testing of the 3ES8-001 prototype was recently finished, and it included, among other things, tests of the impact of the locomotive on tracks and switches, which were successfully completed in May this year on the Belorechenskaya - Maykop track of the North Caucasus Railway. 

According to the results of the work of interdepartmental commission the conformity of the locomotive with the requirements of the specification and railway transport safety norms was confirmed, and building of the introductory batch of 50 locomotives was allowed. It is planned that a certificate for Class 3ES8 will be obtained in the near future, and UL will start producing new electric locomotives subsequently.

Vitaly Brekson, First Deputy General Director of Ural Locomotives, said: "Today's event can be considered the beginning of a new milestone in the history of the Russian railway machine building. The 3 kV DC Class 3ES8 Malakhit opens up the development which will involve in the future also the production of 25 kV 50 Hz and dual-voltage locomotives as well".