Alstom Wins Contract to Supply Azerbaijan with 50 KZ8A Locomotives
Image Courtesy of Alstom
Alstom has won a contract which means that they can supply Azerbaijan Railways with 50 of their KZ8A locomotives. The Azerbaijan Railway locomotives will be assembled in Alstom’s JV EKZ between 2016 and 2018. The total contract of this contract will be up to 300 million, of this Alstom takes a 50% share. The French President, Francois Hollande, and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, were both present at the signing of this contract, to witness this partnership. As well as the supply of 50 KZ8A locomotives, the contract may also include the construction of a depot, technical assistance and maintenance, and training for staff. These terms will be negotiated over the next six months.
Alstom’s KZ8A Powerful Locomotive
The KZ8A locomotive is among some of the most powerful locomotives among the world today. The locomotive carries power of 8,800 kW, has asynchronous traction, able to run at 120km/h and is able to haul up to 9,000 tons.
Azerbaijan is a strategic transit point between Europe and Central Asia. The modern KZ8A freight locomotives will help increasing its carrying capacity in transportation of raw materials and goods, said Thibault Desteract, SVP Alstom Transport Russia and CIS.