Ukrainian Manufacturers from Seven Regions Join Alstom's New Electric Locomotive Construction for Ukrzaliznytsia

French company Alstom Transport has officially announced its collaboration with Ukrainian manufacturers who will produce components for the dual-system Alstom UA8AC electric locomotives. This partnership became possible thanks to an initiative from Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ), which provided its French partners with a list of companies involved in the repair of locomotives and other rolling stock after securing contracts for the supply of locomotives.

Experts from Alstom Transport conducted monitoring and a competitive selection process for Ukrainian suppliers that could participate in the localization of electric locomotive production. Ukrzaliznytsia shared this information in a Facebook post, emphasizing the importance of involving Ukrainian enterprises in this project.

In Ukraine, a range of components is planned for production, including radio stations, locomotive safety and fire alarm systems, braking system elements, couplings, cabin heaters, seats, and sand delivery system parts. "Separate negotiations are ongoing regarding the production of wheels. This is strategically important: an electric locomotive changes its wheel set at least 10 times over its lifecycle. Therefore, the ability to procure them in Ukraine is not just about localization, but about stability and long-term savings," noted Ukrzaliznytsia.

Although the list of enterprises involved in the construction of the locomotives has not been disclosed, it is known that they are located in seven regions of Ukraine: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Cherkasy, Zaporizhia, and Khmelnytskyi. This indicates a broad geographical scope of the project and the involvement of local producers.

According to information provided by Ukrzaliznytsia, the production of new electric locomotives has already commenced. Currently, the bodies of the first locomotive have been manufactured, which is expected to arrive in Ukraine at the beginning of 2027 for certification and resource testing. The delivery of the entire batch of 55 units is planned to be completed by May 2029.

The contract with Alstom Transport, valued at EUR 473 million, was signed by Ukrzaliznytsia following an international tender organized by the World Bank. Subsequently, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development joined the implementation of this significant project, highlighting the international support and importance of this initiative for Ukraine.

The new locomotives are based on the Traxx Hauler platform and will be the first European-manufactured freight electric locomotives in Ukraine's history. They will operate on both alternating and direct current, making them more versatile and efficient in operation. In terms of specifications, the new locomotives significantly outperform existing ones: maximum power reaches up to 9000 kW, speed up to 120 km/h, and tractive effort during start-up is 800 kN. Additionally, they will feature a modern engine control system and improved working conditions for locomotive crews.