CNR Dalian has placed an order for 232 engines from Rolls-Royce subsidiary MTU for a new fleet of South African locomotives.
The €100 million contract includes MTU Series 4000 type 20V R63L engines.
CNR-led consortium CNRRSSA will install the engines in new freight locomotives it is supplying for South African operator Transnet Freight Rail.
Dr Michael Haidinger, CSO at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said: “Winning this order signals our breakthrough into the market for Chinese freight locomotives, which are being exported in ever larger quantities.”
With an output of 3,300 kilowatts, the engines are the most powerful units MTU produce.
Delivery of the engines is scheduled for between 2015 and 2017.
