China rolls out first 1000kW battery-powered locomotives for industrial use

China's first batch of 1,000-kilowatt battery-powered locomotives officially rolled off the production line at CRRC Dalian Co. on Monday in Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The first batch of 10 units are set to be deployed in steel enterprises, replacing outdated diesel locomotives. This marks a significant step in promoting green transformation in industrial settings, injecting fresh momentum into low-carbon development.

The newly launched battery-powered locomotives are equipped with high-capacity lithium iron phosphate batteries and feature advanced liquid-cooled fast-charging technology. They support ultra-high-power charging of up to 680 kilowatts, enabling a full charge in just 70 minutes.

The liquid-cooled system ensures charging stability through efficient heat dissipation, while the mature charging infrastructure simplifies installation and operation for end users.

"As a member of the new energy locomotive family, fully electric locomotives are primarily designed to meet the shunting needs of industrial and mining enterprises. They offer significant advantages in energy conservation and emission reduction, achieving true zero-emission operation," said Sun Rongkun, chairman of CRRC Dalian Co.

The locomotive is equipped with an unmanned intelligent transport mode that can simulate the operating habits of experienced drivers, enabling fully autonomous smart transportation.

The locomotive also features an integrated auxiliary vision system that extends the driver's field of view and eliminates blind spots. Its digital flat shunting system, combining wireless communication, BeiDou System (BDS) positioning, and automated control technologies, boosts operational efficiency by over 20 percent while simultaneously enhancing safety and intelligence levels.

CRRC Dalian is an affiliated company under CRRC Corporation, China's top train manufacturer and the world's largest supplier of rail transit equipment.

China rolls out first 1000kW battery-powered locomotives for industrial use

With the May Day holiday coinciding with spring breaks in various regions, China's railway tourism market is heating up earlier than usual, as passenger-friendly measures are rolled out to boost cultural and tourism consumption.

"My family booked this trip for me. I'm just happy to travel with my husband," said a passenger.

In time for the May Day holiday, a new batch of branded tourist trains will be launched to cater to diverse passenger needs. China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) is also rolling out discount policies on tourist special trains as part of broader efforts to revitalize cultural tourism spending.

Meanwhile, accommodation along tourist train routes has begun offering coupon-based discounts.

According to data, the number of tourist trains operating nationwide in the first quarter increased by 440 compared to the same period last year. Moving forward, the integration of railway and tourism will continue to deepen.

"We plan to operate over 2,500 tourist trains this year and develop 50 premium railway tourist routes, so as to continuously energize the railway tourism market and foster new growth drivers in railway-backed consumer services," said Zhang Tao, deputy marketing director of the Passenger Transport Center of China Railway.

China rolls out passenger-friendly railway services ahead of May Day travel rush