Standardising locos the ‘way of the future’: UGL Rail

By Jennifer Perry

Standardising its locomotives is something that UGL has “considered for a while”, Jenkins told Rail Express.
“Turning an idea into reality takes time, especially if it is to be done successfully,” Jenkins said, adding that the benefits of such a significant shift don’t “present themselves immediately”.
UGL recently conducted a customer survey along with several internal audits to establish how the company could optimise the business in the direction that would most benefit its customers.
“One of our key findings shows that producing a standardised locomotive will enable us to offer our customers a higher quality product, at a lower cost, with a shorter lead time,” he said.
“Spare parts and components along with optional extras for standardised locomotives will also be more cost effective and easier to supply than a custom engineered locomotive, as the design and engineering aspect is already in place.”
UGL’s C44ACi is UGL’s standardised locomotive. Four customers have already committed to the product – QR, QR Freight, PN and Xstrata/Freightliner – with other key players also showing interest, Jenkins said.
“The high interest and commitment from our customers to our C44ACi locomotive gives us confidence that we are providing a high quality product with enough versatility to meet market demands...and that standardising locomotives is the right direction for our business to move in.
“Considering all of the potential benefits for customers with standardising locomotives, it is the next logical step for the Australian rail industry.”

Introducing the C44ACi
The C44ACi is a state-of-the-art diesel electric loco that was developed by UGL Rail to maximise operator flexibility with heavy haul and high speed freight applications. It uses a GE AC traction package that allows for individual axle control rather than just individual bogie control. Each axle is powered independently in order to provide better traction characteristics and reliability. In addition, the loco relies on a maximum of only 5% creep on its leading axle for full tractive effort, reducing the impact on rail infrastructure. The C44ACi not only addresses the need for higher haulage capability and faster section times through its AC traction package, but also incorporates increased fuel efficiency. Independent testing on GE engines in the United States last year, demonstrated their efficiency in terms of duty cycle net tractive specific fuel consumption, which exceeded the competition’s engine fuel performance.
The C44ACi has recently passed the stringent Cowan Bank test required for operation over the RailCorp network. Currently the locomotives are operating in the Hunter Valley, in Western Australia, performing a mixture of high speed freight service and heavy haul duties on unit iron ore trains, and between Brisbane and Perth in cross country intermodal service.

Jenkins said with the resources sector ramping up, UGL has seen an increase in the demand for its wagons and locos in the Australian market with the company’s current order book at half year at a record high of $3.2bn – an increase of 131% for the same period last year – and a “solid pipeline” of tendering opportunities.