Alstom delivers the first freight locomotive to Azerbaijan

Alstom has delivered the first of the 40 Prima T8 ‘AZ8A’ freight locomotives that will run on Baku-Tbilisi-Kars regional railway link to the Azerbaijan Railways (ADY).

The locomotive, produced at EKZ JV in Kazakhstan, arrived in Bilajary, Azerbaijan after being shipped from Astana. Alstom, over a few months, will now conduct validation tests on the Azerbaijani rail infrastructure. 

“We are delighted to continue being a strategic partner of ADY and to deliver the first freight locomotive to Azerbaijan that will help satisfy the increasing need for freight transportation in the country,” said Bernard Peille, Alstom Managing Director for Western and Central Asia.

With eight axles, Prima T8 is one of the most powerful electric locomotives in the world. The AZ8A is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -25°C to 50°C. It requires minimum maintenance and provides high reliability levels and low lifecycle costs.

Alstom’s Prima range is covering all market segments of locomotives from heavy-haul, freight and passenger operation and shunting or trackwork operation. The AZ8A is a Prima T8 heavy freight locomotive and is based on the KZ8A locomotives currently in service in Kazakhstan. The vehicle meets ADY’s specific technical requirements and is compliant with GOST standards and specifications.

To date, more than 3,000 Prima locomotives have been sold worldwide since the 1990s.