The principal designer was V. Khlebnikov; the locomotive utilised an 8-axle articulated design within a single locomotive body, two sets of main bogies each of four axles articulated in a Bo-Bo arrangement.[1]
It is claimed that Unit TEP80-0002 holds the world speed record for a diesel railed vehicle having reached 271 km/h (168 mph) on 5 October 1993.[3] This record has not been verified by any independent witness. In 2007, the machine was transferred from the Russian Railway research institute (VNIIZhT) to the October railway museum (Музей Октябрьской железной дороги) in Saint Petersburg.[4]