Pittsburgh-based Wabtec, a provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for the freight and transit rail industries, recently entered into a $405-million agreement to supply Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) with Evolution Series ES44ACi locomotives.
“Kazakhstan has a progressive and open-thinking local government that understands the importance of railways in driving the local economy,” Gokhan Bayhan, Wabtec regional senior vice president of operations for CIS, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, said. “KTZ serves as a critical link for the transportation of freight between China and the West. These Evolution Series locomotives will provide the efficiency, reliability, and operational savings to effectively support the growing demand on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.”
Evolution Series ES44ACi locomotives are designed to operate in the demanding extreme weather conditions and mountainous terrain. They feature a 12-cylinder, 4,500-horsepower engine that improves performance in heavy-haul operations and can go for longer periods between maintenance overhauls when compared to KTZ’s current fleet.
Wabtec will build the locomotives at the Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty plant in Kazakhstan, and will begin deliveries from the order starting next year.
KTZ will upgrade its aging fleet with the Evolution Series locomotives. This will allow it to support growing rail demand in the region.
KTZ’s fleet currently includes approximately 451 Evolution Series freight locomotives.