Pittsburgh-based Wabtec Corp. has signed a record-breaking $4.2 billion agreement with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway of Kazakhstan, to supply its Evolution Series locomotives, as well as the provision of long-term service support.
“For over two decades, our partnership with KTZ has been critical in transforming Kazakhstan’s rail industry,” Wabtec President and CEO Rafael Santana said on Sept. 22. “By delivering advanced locomotives and long-term service solutions, Wabtec is a proud partner in Kazakhstan’s progress, helping to unlock the region’s enormous potential and developing the engineering competencies in the country’s railway industry.”
Wabtec, which manufactures products for locomotives, freight cars, and passenger transit vehicles, additionally builds new locomotives up to 6,000 horsepower. The company also has a major manufacturing and research facility in Erie, Pa., where it assembles locomotives and develops advanced rail technologies, such as hydrogen-powered trains. The Erie facility is a significant part of the company’s global operations and has been a key site since Wabtec acquired GE Transportation.
“Huge win for the Wabtec workers in Erie,” U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) posted Monday on X. “This $4.2-billion deal with the Government of Kazakhstan will support thousands of good-paying jobs and boost our manufacturing base here at home.”
The multi-year order — the largest in Wabtec’s history — will deliver next-generation locomotives built to handle Kazakhstan’s challenging weather and mountainous terrain while improving fuel efficiency and extending the time between major overhauls, according to Wabtec, which said it will also provide maintenance services to support both the new units and KTZ’s existing fleet, aiming to boost reliability and reduce operating costs.
The deal also underscores the growing importance of Kazakhstan’s rail network as a strategic link between Europe and Asia, the companies said Monday.
Kazakhstan, which already serves as Wabtec’s regional center of excellence, said it expects to see significant benefits from the deal, including expanded engineering expertise and enhanced rail technology capabilities.
“Kazakhstan plays a key role in realizing the transit potential of the Eurasian continent,” said Talgat Aldybergenov, the CEO of National Railway Company of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy. “This new agreement confirms our commitment to advanced technologies in the transport sector and will also make a significant contribution to the development of industry and railway engineering in Kazakhstan.”