Shuttle Locomotive

General Description

The locomotive is designed to haul Shuttle trains through the channel tunnel. It is of Monocoque design with fixed structural bulkheads dividing the interior of the frame into sections. The body sides have been designed for great strength and a low weight characteristic to carry all vertical and buffing loads.

Bogies

The locomotive has a Bo-Bo-Bo bogie configuration which suits the tight curves at each terminal, it also offers a high adhesion characteristic that is required for the long heavy shuttle trains.

The Power System

The power system is largely provided by ABB and is based on 3 phase AC drive technology, which has been proven in service operation.

Power is collected from the 25 kV overhead supply by one of the two pantographs on each locomotive (second Pantograph for emergency only) to the Main Transformer, which has 3 main windings feeding power to 3 four-quadrant converters (one for each bogie).

Each converter supplies power through a DC link to a 3 phase inverter, which in turn feeds 3 phase AC power to the two 950 kW asynchronous frame mounted Traction Motors which are cooled by forced air ventilation.

Two auxiliary windings in the Transformer provide power for the converters, which supply the locomotive auxiliaries and the DC power to the train vehicles.

Brake System

The brake system comprises an electrically controlled, time dependant, automatic air brake together with a straight air brake. The automatic air brake, which conforms to UIC requirements, incorporates an Electro-Pneumatic (EP) assistance feature and is capable of gradual application and release. It is also used for the control of the regenerative and friction brakes on the locomotive and for control of the air braked wagons on the train.

The locomotive is also equipped with a dynamic brake of the regenerative type which is controlled by and used in conjunction with the automatic air brake on a per bogie basis.

Performance Parameters