Alstom signs Memorandum of Understanding with Ukrainian Railways for electric locomotives

Alstom and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding officialising cooperation for the provision and maintenance of electric locomotives. The MoU was signed today by Yevgen Kravtsov, Acting Chairman of the Board of Ukrainian Railways, and Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Alstom’s Chairman & CEO, during the InnoTrans 2018 railway trade show in Berlin.

The strategic priority of UZ is the renovation of its electric locomotive fleet. The total requirements of UZ over the next 10 years cover 495 locomotives, including freight locomotives of different voltages (25kV, 3kV, and dual-voltage) and dual-voltage passenger locomotives, as well as associated services and maintenance for up to 25 years. It also encompasses the homologation of the product in Ukraine and the provision of all relevant documentation by Alstom.

“I am very pleased to be officialising this cooperation with Ukrainian Railways today. Alstom is present in over 60 countries and we are proud to count Ukraine among them. Wherever we are, we adapt to local conditions and propose suitable solutions to our customers. We see the high potential of the Ukrainian market, and we would be proud to contribute to the modernisation of the country’s railway infrastructure and its further integration within the broader European railway market,” said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chairman and CEO of Alstom.

[i"Alstom is one of the world’s leading rail transport manufacturers. I am pleased with the fact that today’s memorandum is a starting point for our cooperation with the French company. Our strategic goal is to renew our fleet of locomotives. As we already have a strategic partner in the supply of diesel locomotives, we are actively exploring the possibilities for the effective cooperation on the renewal of the electric locomotive fleet. Almost 47% of Ukraine’s railways have been electrified, but the goal is to increase the number of electrified areas up to 54% within two years. Cooperation with Alstom is also very important for us because the company has considerable experience in the manufacture of [/i]1520mm gauge electric locomotives. Moreover, the possibility of maximum localization at Ukrainian enterprises is the essential condition in the cooperation with Alstom”, said Yevgen Kravtsov, Acting CEO of Ukrainian Railways.

Following preliminary meetings held in April this year between Alstom’s management and Ukrainian authorities, Alstom has opened a representative office in the country.

The Ukrainian railway network is 1520mm gauge with over 22,000 kilometres of track. The country plans to develop international railway routes to Europe and to modernise its transport infrastructure in all segments, from urban with trams and metros, to mainline with regional and intercity trains or high-speed lines.

Alstom can already boast significant experience in 1520mm gauge railways, specifically in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, where it has been delivering freight and passengers locomotives adapted to the local requirements since 2010. These include heavy freight Prima T8 locomotives, which feature very high hauling capacity. They ensure the highest tractive efforts on electrified networks, with appropriate comfort and maximum safety for covering long distances. The latest Prima T8 versions, such as the KZ8A for Kazakhstan and the AZ8A for Azerbaijan, can haul up to 9,000 tons and can run at 120 km/h. They include adaptations for the harshest conditions, including desert environments and extreme cold down to -50ºC.