Alstom’s Prima KZ8A freight locomotives have clocked up 10 million km on Kazakhstan’s rail network. The 31 locos are currently operating from Tobol to Ekibastuz, and from Presnogorkovsk to Chu.
The Prima KZ8A is a two-section alternating-current freight locomotive capable of towing up to 9,000 tonnes and running at 120kph. One of the most powerful locos in the world (8,800kW), it was developed to the requirements of KTZ (Kazakhstan Railways) and has a traction system based on Alstom technology, with components produced by Alstom and Transmashholding.
The locos, which are designed to operate in temperatures from -50°C to +50°C, are made at the EKZ plant in Astana; this is jointly owned by KTZ (50%), Alstom (25%) and Transmashholding (25%).
With 14,000km of track, the Kazakh railway network is the world’s third-biggest using the 1,520mm track gauge and represents a substantial market for signalling equipment as well as maintenance activities.