1st branded locomotives at ArcelorMittal – Like Christmas in July!

“At ArcelorMittal Mines Canada, we’re all excited! Our 4 brand new locomotives are about to be delivered and as far as I know, these are the 1st locomotives to be ArcelorMittal branded. We just can’t wait and we feel just like kids on Christmas Eve…

To create those branded locomotives, we have worked with a brand consultancy and with GE Transport, who are manufacturers of these locomotives. A whole bunch of people were involved because it was more than just design – we had to consider materials such as 3M™ adhesives, paint, Canadian and Quebec railway regulations, etc. Now that the work is done, we are all very proud and can’t wait to unwrap our present.

ArcelorMittal Mines Canada rail transports iron ore concentrate from Mont-Wright to Port-Cartier. Renowned throughout the North American rail industry, it is considered a benchmark for reliability and innovation. The railway is 420 kilometres long, and comprises 18 sidings, 20 bridges and 5 tunnels.
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Train and maintenance personnel can stop at 2 permanent camps located along the line. The railway is rigorously inspected at regular intervals, while planned maintenance programmes are applied using state-of-the-art instruments and specialised vehicles.

The Company’s rolling stock includes 22 locomotives, some 950 cars, more than 300 utility cars and many different railway maintenance and inspection vehicles. They are maintained at the rail workshops in Port-Cartier, where empty trains are also prepared to leave for Mont-Wright.

On average, 5 full trains return from Mont-Wright each day. Each train, propelled by 2 locomotives, carries 14,900 tonnes of concentrate in 160 cars and measures 1.5 kilometres from nose to tail. A round trip takes about 25 hours. And that’s exactly what is awaiting our ‘brand’ new locomotives.”

By Martin Simard, Communications, ArcelorMittal Mines Canada