Kazakhstan Railways JSC and the American company Wabtec have signed an agreement for the supply of locomotives of the new TE33AT series. Production is localized in Kazakhstan at the Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty plant in Astana.

As part of this partnership, service agreements have also been signed to provide maintenance for both new and existing locomotives. This will ensure the high reliability of KZR’s fleet and optimize operating costs. Long-term contracts guarantee job stability at service centers across the country—in Sekseuul, Ayagoz, Makat, Aktobe, Astana, Shalkar, and Almaty.

The total value of the agreements amounts to $4.2 billion.

The new locomotives are characterized by high power, energy efficiency, and reliability, which will allow KTZ to increase traction availability as freight volume grows. The fleet renewal will reduce locomotive wear and tear from the current ~49% to 32% by 2030.

The partnership between KTZ and Wabtec, which began in the early 2000s, has been a key driver of the modernization of Kazakhstan’s railway industry. Their collaboration has brought rolling stock and operational processes up to world-class standards and created a modern and reliable transport infrastructure.

This deal is the largest in the history of locomotive manufacturing in Kazakhstan and has strengthened the country’s position as a strategic player in the Eurasian transport technology market.

“The signing of this agreement confirms the high level of expertise in the domestic machine-building industry and its ability to integrate into global production chains. The localization of locomotive production, the creation of a service network, and the attraction of long-term investments directly impact economic development, employment, and the strengthening of Kazakhstan’s position in the international market. The Union of Machine Builders supports the expansion of such projects as a key direction for the country’s industrialization,” noted the Association of Kazakhstan Machinery Industry.