PORT KLANG: KTM Berhad has taken delivery of five "Blue Tiger" locomotives from Germany that will double the capacity compared to the existing locomotives and reduce the time taken for a journey by a third.

Transport Minister Datuk Chan Kong Choy, who witnessed the delivery of the units at Westport here, said the new locomotives would enhance cargo handling facilities at Port Klang.

"The usage of the Blue Tiger DE-AC 33C locomotives by KTMB is a major milestone in the history of freight transport as it has a horse power of 3,300 compared to 1,500 while its speed is 120km/h, which is 20km/h faster than the existing locomotives," Chan told a press conference after launching the first set of five locomotives manufactured by Germany's General Electric Transportation System (GETS) yesterday.

The new locomotives which arrived from Hamburg can take a load up to 2,500 tonnes of cargo placed in 30 wagons, making it the most powerful in the South-East Asian region.

The locomotives would be tested for a month before they are utilised to transport cargo such as cement and raw sugar.

Chan said the ministry purchased 20 such locomotives two years ago at a cost of RM244.91mil in barter trade for almost 195,000 tonnes of palm oil.

He said the remaining 15 locomotives would be delivered by the end of the year.

"We hope to change the entire fleet of 75 locomotives, including 30 units which were leased from Indian Railways with the Blue Tiger model by the year 2008," added Chan.