Interest in Kyrgyzstan and its rail and logistics potential does not only come from China, but also from the United States. The publicly-owned rail freight operator KRG will receive 10 locomotives from US-based manufacturer Wabtec.
“These locomotives are expected to be delivered to Kyrgyzstan by the end of 2027”, the President’s website pointed out. The made-in-USA units will likely be deployed on infrastructure built mainly with Chinese funds, in a rare example of projects attracting interests from both superpowers.
The deal was announced during a meeting between Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov with representatives from the US President for Global Partnerships, Secretary of Commerce, US Export-Credit Bank and Wabtec. The locomotives are part of the TE33AS series, built by Wabtec specifically for markets with a railway gauge of 1520 mm such as Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine.
CKU development
The construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway (CKU) is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Central Asia and should boost rail freight along the Middle Corridor. The new line will bring increased capacity which “requires the appropriate strengthening of the traction rolling stock”, the President’s note explained. Enter Wabtec, its locomotives and this deal for 10 units.