ELECTRIC DRIVE FOR LOCOMOTIVES The Research and Development of Modern Railway Traction and Control Technology (CSR Zhuzhou Institute Co., Ltd., Zhuzhou, Hunan 412001, China) Abstract: The technology of modern railway traction and control had been one of the most important marks to measure a country's level of railway technology. From the application characteristics of AC traction, this paper described the problems faced by the practical application of the high power traction drive system. This paper introduced the core technologies results of power electronic devices, high power traction device and its control system and train network control system. This paper also analyzed the future development of traction and control technology and prospected the future application of railway traction and control technology to solar power, HVDC, electric vehicle, metallurgy and rolling mill, marine propulsion and oil and gas delivery, etc. Key words: power electronic devices; converter device; drive control; frequency conversion