The Alstom/Transmashholding (TMH) joint venture EKZ is manufacturing 40 units as part of a 2014 contract for a total 50 locomotives, including 10 Prima M4 AZ4A passenger units.

“Today we are very proud to present the result of strong collaboration between Alstom and ADY: the very first freight locomotive produced for Azerbaijan at our plant in Kazakhstan,” says Mr Bernard Peille, Alstom managing director for the western and central Asia cluster. “We are pleased that this locomotive will be part of the development of the transit link between the Caspian and Black Seas, Russia and Iran – an intersection where Azerbaijan, with its 3,000 kilometres of line, plays a key role.”

The 2x Bo-Bo AZ8A is based on the KZ8A locomotives currently in service in Kazakhstan and ADY’s specific technical requirements, and is compliant with the Euro-Asian Council for Standardisation, Metrology and Certification’s (EASC) GOST standards and specifications.

The 3kV dc, two-section freight locomotive is capable of hauling up to 9000 tonnes and running at 120 km/h, with installed continuous power of 8.8MW. The AZ8A is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -25°C to 50°C.