Alstom to Supply 117 Electric Freight Locomotives to Kazakhstan

French transportation giant Alstom has signed a contract to deliver 117 new electric freight locomotives to Kazakhstan, marking a significant upgrade for the country’s rail network. This agreement, announced on Monday during the Kazakhstan-France Business Council meeting in Paris, is expected to support Kazakhstan’s goal of modernizing its transportation infrastructure.

The deal was secured between Alstom, Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Temir Zholy (KTZ), and Electrovoz Kurastyru Zauyty (EKZ). Under the terms of the agreement, Alstom will provide the powerful electric freight locomotives and establish new service centers in Kazakhstan by 2028.

These new locomotives are designed to replace the outdated VL-80 models from the 1980s, which currently dominate Kazakhstan’s freight rail network. Based on Alstom’s Prima T8 KZ8A platform, the modern electric locomotives can haul up to 9,000 tons, significantly increasing capacity compared to existing trains. In addition to their power, these locomotives offer lower maintenance costs, high reliability, and greater energy efficiency, which is expected to help reduce operational costs over time.

The financing for this large-scale project will be supported by Société Générale, one of France’s major banks, which will provide Kazakhstan with favorable loan rates to ease the cost of this transition. BPI France, the export credit agency of the French Ministry of Finance, will guarantee the financing.

Alstom is also constructing four maintenance centers across Kazakhstan, backed by a €50 million investment. Andrew DeLeon, Alstom’s President for Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, confirmed that the first service center will open in Shu by early 2025. These centers will not only streamline maintenance but also create over 450 local jobs, boosting Kazakhstan’s economy and strengthening its rail infrastructure.

Alstom already plays a significant role in Kazakhstan’s rail industry, with approximately 250 freight and 119 passenger locomotives manufactured by the company in use across the country. As one of the world’s leading transportation companies, Alstom is the sole producer of electric locomotives and point machines in Central Asia and the Caucasus region. The company’s workforce in Kazakhstan has grown to over 1,000 employees, operating across seven sites, including two production plants.

With a railway network stretching over 15,000 kilometers, Kazakhstan serves as a crucial link between Europe, Asia, Russia, and the Middle East, particularly through the New Silk Road trade routes. The country’s rail network, which uses a 1,520 mm track gauge, is the 21st largest in the world, making it an attractive market for both transport and maintenance operations.