Kazakhstan: The national operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has received the final batch consisting of 17 units. According to the official statement, the delivery, terminated four months beforehand, has finalised last October’s contract for the delivery of 100 coaches.
In October 2025, the 61-4517 and the 61-4516 first- and second-class couchette coaches and the 61-4529 staff coach were certified for serial production at RWS Wagon (previously ZIKSTO, part of Railways Systems KZ). The main supplier of components for the rolling stock is Russia’s TMH.
The coaches feature central air-conditioning and heat insulation systems and transformed couchettes. It is possible to regulate temperature in each compartment of first-class couchette and staff coaches with a precision of one degree. The rolling stock is also reported to be capable of operations in different climatic conditions. As ROLLINGSTOCK knew from Railways Systems KZ, the coaches are adjusted for –50 °C and lower temperatures, according to the existing standards.
The coaches are united by pairs so that there is one vestibule area between them. As stated, such construction allows for coach service optimisation. All passenger categories can travel with comfort, as the rolling stock is adapted for people with limited mobility, families with children, elderly passengers and tourists.
In Russia, the coaches of this series have been produced by TMH’s site in Tver since 2019. RWS Wagon earlier provided KTZ with the Series 44 coaches, which were also manufactured according to the Tver plant’s technologies. In 2023–2025, RWS Wagon produced over 350 coaches for KTZ.
It is worth noting that the delivery ahead of schedule has been announced in light of delays from Stadler, another manufacturer of passenger rolling stock for KTZ, with contracts valued at €2.3 bln and including 557 passenger coaches. In early March, the Kazakh Ministry of Transport confirmed that the first batch of 51 coaches from the Swiss manufacturer is postponed for four months, from December 2025 to April 2026.
