The HXD2B is a 6 axle Co′Co′ locomotive designed for heavy freight mainline work. The design is a single body twin cab locomotive with 6 axles in Co′Co′ wheel arrangement. The body frame, traction motor power electronics and driver facilities are of a similar design as the HXD2. The bogie design differs from the HXD2 using a straight welded steel frame[1] rather than the 'mouth' shaped form used in the HXD2.[2]
An order worth €1.2billion (25% Alstom, 75% Datong) for 500 units was made in 2006. The first 100 units were to be built primarily by Alstom,[3] this number was reduced in 2007 to 10 units.[4] The first Chinese-built unit was produced in December 2009.[5] The order is expected to be complete by 2012.[1][needs update]
See also
China Railways 8K, twin-unit locomotives produced by Alstom for China in the 1980s. see also8K locomotive (Chinese language)
^"China: modern electrics". www.railcolor.com. CNR HXD 2B. Retrieved 6 February 2011. In March 2007 it was decided that Belfort would only assemble ten units completely, followed by 190 building kits to be shipped to China. It is still not known to us what the final numbers are concerning the production.