Alstom begins production of passenger locomotives in Kazakhstan

Alstom has started the production of passenger electric locomotives Prima M4 “KZ4AT” in the EKZ joint venture in Nur-Sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan. These locomotives are part of the contract signed with KTZ (Kazakhstan Railways) for delivery and maintenance of 302 Prima T8 “KZ8A” and 119 Prima M4 “KZ4AT” electric locomotives. Alstom plans to hire additional 35 people for the new production line.

Alstom is expanding manufacturing lines at EKZ including construction of Prima T8 freight locomotives “KZ8A” for Kazakhstan and “AZ8A” for export to Azerbaijan, production of on-board transformers and now starting the assembly of Prima M4 passenger locomotives.

Guillaume Tritter, Alstom Managing Director for Kazakhstan, said: “We are proud to widen our activities by launching the new production line for passenger locomotives in Kazakhstan, which diversifies country’s industrialisation program. The first passenger locomotive should be ready by the end of 2019 and then certified as new and premiere product “Made in Kazakhstan”, and we have a strong will to become an export platform in Central Asia. Same 20 Prima M4 passenger locomotives are already in commercial operation on Kazakh railways and have ran more than 15 million kilometres which demonstrates their outstanding rail system availability and reliability.”

This multi-purpose locomotive is based on the Alstom Prima modular platform designed to provide operators with the most suitable solutions for passenger services. It is one of the most versatile, in terms of applications, electric locomotive in the world. This locomotive is able to run at 200km/h in passenger services and has been designed to successfully operate in extreme weather conditions from -50°C to +50°C. Developed on the basis of KTZ (Kazakhstan Railways) technical requirements and in compliance with GOST standards and specifications, the locomotive has a cutting-edge traction system based on Alstom’s technology and components produced by Alstom and Transmashholding.

EKZ, a joint venture between Alstom and Transmashholding (TMH), employs more than 550 people and is working on supplying and maintaining the Prima electric locomotives ordered by KTZ. Today, 50 freight locomotives and 20 passenger locomotives are already in commercial operation on Kazakhstan’s rail lines.

Alstom is present in Kazakhstan with more than 650 people, two joint ventures and two facilities, EKZ in Nur-Sultan for locomotives manufacturing and maintenance and on-board transformers, and KEP in Almaty for the production of point machines. Alstom is the only manufacturer of electric locomotives and point machines in the Central Asian and Caucasian region and a major contributor to the revitalisation of its rail industry and the development of its economy.