(The Associated Press circulated the following on November 17, 2009.)
ERIE, Pa. — GE Transportation in Erie says it has sold 300 locomotive kits to China, where the engines will be assembled with some other parts manufactured there.
The deal comes on the heels of Canadian National Railway’s order last month of 35 high-horsepower Evolution series locomotives.
GE Transportation officials haven’t revealed the value of either deal.
And, despite the new business, about 1,500 layoffs will still take effect by the end of this month.
GE officials say the company already knew about the Chinese deal when the layoffs were first announced in September.
However, the new business should help maintain the remaining jobs at the plant.