Alstom And Kazakhstan Railways Expand Their Partnership

On 30 November 2022, Alstom and KTZ signed a cooperation agreement during the visit of His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to France. The agreement was signed by Andrew DeLeone, President of Alstom in Africa, Middle East and Central Asia and Nurlan Sauranbayev, CEO of KTZ.

Both companies reinforced their cooperation for the renewal of KTZ’s locomotive fleet and maintenance support. To date, 90 Class KZ8A and 39 Class KZ4AT locomotives are in commercial operation. Yet 160 and 80 locomotives are to be delivered for KTZ, totalling 250 freight and 119 passenger Prima locomotives. Both parties agreed to join efforts to grow capacity and rail know-how within the supply base in the country to increase localisation rates. Over the last 12 years, Alstom has developed a strong supplier base with over 340 local partners and plans to expand this base further and increase localisation rates.

Alstom and KTZ also agreed to diversify their partnership and create an interlocking centre of excellence in Kazakhstan with the goal of establishing EBI Lock 950 product (signalling) expertise in the country. Additionally, Alstom will work with KTZ on implementing low emission rail technologies with a focus on hydrogen and battery trains.

Alstom in Kazakhstan employs over 1,000 people and has four service sites and two production plants. One is EKZ in Astana for electric locomotives and production of on-board transformers and bogies, and the second is KEP in Almaty to produce point machines to serve the rail network in the country.