Alstom delivers first freight locomotive to Azerbaijan

19th December 2018

Alstom have delivered the first of 40 Prima T8 “AZ8A” freight locomotives to Azerbaijan. The locomotives will run on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars regional railway link to the Azerbaijan Railways (ADY).

Produced at EKZ JV in Kazakhstan, the locomotive arrived in Bilajary, Azerbaijan after being shipped from Astana on 7th December. Validation tests will now begin on the Azerbaijani railways infrastructure during the next few months.

The Alstom Prima range is intended to cover all aspects of operation, including heavy-haul, freight and passenger operation and shunting or trackwork operation. The AZ8A is a heavy freight variant and is based on the KZ8A locomotives currently in service in Kazakhstan.

One of the most powerful electric locomotives in the world, the Prima T8 is capable of hauling up to 9,000 tonnes at 120 km/h, with installed continuous power of 8.8 Megawatts. Designed to work in extreme variations of weather, it requires minimum maintenance and provides high reliability levels and low lifecycle costs thanks to its modular design.

Bernard Peille, Alstom Managing Director for Western and Central Asia said:

“We are delighted to continue being a strategic partner of ADY and to deliver the first freight locomotive to Azerbaijan that will help satisfy the increasing need for freight transportation in the country”

Author: Darren Porter
Image: Alstom