The order is divided in into 60 type TGM-8 and 15 type TGM-4 locomotives, which will be built at Lyudinovo locomotive works and delivered at a rate of 15 units per year.

The contract also covers rehabilitation of UFC’s José Casamayor works in Havana, which will become the primary maintenance facility for the new TGM locos.

UFC already operates a fleet of Russian diesel-hydraulic locomotives, which are mainly used to haul sugar trains. UFC hauls 16 million tonnes of freight per year for the sugar industry.

The new locomotives are primarily destined for this traffic as the present fleet is ageing. However, UFC plans to deploy the fleet on other duties, including passenger operations.

The agreement to purchase locomotives from Russia follows the signing of a €190m loan agreement last month between the Cuban government and the Export Insurance Agency of Russia.