Wabtec Corporation has reached a landmark agreement with National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway, to supply Evolution Series locomotives and deliver comprehensive long-term service support. Valued at $4.2 billion, this multi-year deal represents the largest locomotive contract in Wabtec’s history.
“For over two decades, our partnership with KTZ has been critical in transforming Kazakhstan’s rail industry,” said Rafael Santana, President and CEO of Wabtec. “This historic agreement embodies KTZ’s visionary approach for the country’s rail network as the primary link between Europe and Asia. 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.”
Serving as Wabtec’s regional centre of excellence, Kazakhstan continues to be a strategic hub for the company. This new locomotive contract also secures the partnership with KTZ and solidifies Wabtec’s position as a regional rail technology leader. The Evolution Series locomotives are built to operate in the rugged climates and mountainous terrain of Kazakhstan. With their improved design for higher fuel economy, the locomotives will run farther between overhauls, supporting KTZ’s modernisation of its fleet and development onto new lines of rail. The agreement also includes maintenance services, extending to the new locomotives and KTZ’s current fleet, to deliver the highest reliability and availability at optimized operating costs.
“Kazakhstan plays a key role in realizing the transit potential of the Eurasian continent,” said Talgat Aldybergenov, 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.”
