Alstom sets a new high-speed record in Kazakhstan with its KZ4AT locomotive

Alstom sets a high-speed record in Kazakhstan reaching 200 km/h while conducting tests on its KZ4AT passenger locomotive on the Moiynty-Kiik line South East of Astana. These dynamic tests are part of the validation process in order to allow the locomotives to run up to their maximum design speed during commercial operation.

“We are very pleased and proud that those tests were successful and that we reached 200 km/h for the first time in the railway history of Kazakhstan. This record opens new promising prospects for Kazakhstan as an important hub linking Europe, Middle East, Asia and Russia through new Silk Way”, said Bernard Peille, Managing Director South CIS Alstom.

This multi-purpose locomotive is based on the Alstom Prima modular platform designed to provide operators with the most suitable solutions for passenger services. It is one of the most versatile, in terms of applications, electric locomotive in the world. This locomotive is able to run at 200km/h in passenger services and has been designed to successfully operate in extreme weather conditions from -50C to +50C. Developed on the basis of KTZ (Kazakhstan Railways) technical requirements and in compliance with GOST [1] standards and specifications, the locomotive has a cutting edge traction system based on Alstom’s technology and components produced by Alstom and Transmashholding.

The production of locomotives is localised at the EKZ plant in Astana, jointly owned by Alstom (50%), KTZ (25%) and Transmashholding (25%).

With 14,000 km of track, the Kazakh railway network is the world’s third biggest network using the 1,520 mm track gauge and represents a substantial market for signalling equipment as well as maintenance activities.

[1] Gost : CIS standards

About Alstom

From trains to services and from signalling to infrastructure, Alstom is a leading supplier of integrated mobility solutions. Alstom manages all the stages in setting up an integrated metro system, from its design, to its complete validation and commissioning. With 17 integrated metro projects awarded in cities such as Panama (L. 1 and 2), Guadalajara (Mexico), Los Teques (Venezuela) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) - one of the largest turnkey metro projects ever launched, Alstom is a world leader in this area.