Ukraine: The French manufacturer has signed a contract with the national rail operator, Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ), following a tender process in which, according to the latter, more than 10 companies from Europe and Asia took part.
The value of the contract, which includes the supply of spare parts and driver training, amounts to €473 mln. The procurement will be funded through a €300 mln loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and a €173 mln investment grant from the US Government via World Bank mechanisms.
Beginning in 2027, Alstom will supply Traxx Hauler electric locomotives, a new brand name for heavy Prima heavy freight units. They will be assembled at the company’s plant in Belfort, France. The locomotives will be double-section units with a Bo-Bo axle arrangement, capable of operating on 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC lines at speeds of up to 120 km/h. Their output will range from 7.2 to 9.4 MW.
The parties have also reached a preliminary agreement on the use of Ukrainian-made components in the maintenance of the locomotives. These may include safety systems, brake pads, wheelsets and cooling systems. A dedicated service centre will be established at one of UZ’s facilities for the new fleet.
Alstom’s supply of electric locomotives for UZ had previously been under consideration. In 2021, an intergovernmental agreement was signed, and both the manufacturer and the operator expected to finalise a contract for 130 locomotives in 2022. However, the contracting process was suspended following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. It is worth noting that the original tender, announced in 2020, envisaged an even larger order for 205 locomotives.
