The 8.4MW freight locomotive is the first in Russia to be equipped with asynchronous traction motors. RZD has ordered 200 of the locomotives which are being built at TMH's Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant. The locomotives will start to enter service on the Baikal Amur Main Line this autumn and all 200 locomotives should be delivered to RZD by 2020.

The 2ES5 is the second locomotive to be produced by TRTrans following the 200km/h EP20 passenger electric locomotive.