Alstom starts production of passenger locomotives in Kazakhstan
Alstom has started production of passenger electric locomotives at its 75%-owned EKZ joint venture in Nur-Sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan.
These locomotives are part of a contract signed with KTZ (Kazakhstan Railways) for delivery and maintenance of 302 Prima T8 KZ8A and 119 Prima M4 KZ4AT electric locomotives.
Alstom is expanding manufacturing lines at EKZ including for the construction of Prima T8 freight locomotives KZ8A for Kazakhstan and the production of on-board transformers for AZ8A, for export to Azerbaijan, and now the assembly of Prima M4 passenger locomotives.
The first passenger locomotive should be ready by the end of 2019 and then certified as new and the first “Made in Kazakhstan” product for Alstom.
This multi-purpose locomotive is based on the Alstom Prima modular platform, designed to provide operators with the most suitable solutions for passenger services.
The electric locomotive can run at 200km/h in passenger services and has been designed to operate in extreme weather conditions from -50C to +50C.
EKZ, a joint venture between Alstom and Transmashholding (TMH), employs more than 550 people and is working on supplying and maintaining the Prima electric locomotives ordered by KTZ.