French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom is negotiating with Kazakhstan about the sale of 205 KZ6A electric freight locomotives. Those are supposed to help Kazakh Railways (KTZ) replace its old locomotive fleet.
A meeting took place between representatives of Alstom and the Kazakh transport ministry on 24 April. The two sides did not get to sign a contract quite yet, but the first communications from government officials sound positive.
Alstom would produce the 205 locomotives at its own plant in capital city Astana, the only manufacturer of electric locomotives in Kazakhstan, according to the company. Delivery is supposed to take place between 2029 and 2036.
Cheaper in use
The KZ6A locomotives are six-axle locomotives for mainline services and should replace old rolling stock from 1980. The new locomotives should be 40 per cent cheaper in use and reduce energy spending by 20 per cent compared to its predecessors. That is in part thanks to asynchronous traction motors that use copper in the rotor design for better conductivity.
“Alstom, one of the world’s leading producers of rail equipment, presented an offer for the delivery of six-axle electric freight locomotives of the new generation. The company has significant experience in developing and producing high-quality locomotives, having established itself as a trustworthy partner for CIS countries and Europe”, commented the Kazakh transport ministry.