Uzbekistan Railways to invest US$541.2m to modernization of rolling-stock

The programme, approved by the decree of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, includes four directions – rehabilitation and construction of new cargo and passenger cars, as well as modernization of locomotives, Gazeta.uz reported.

Within five years, Uzbekistan Railways will direct US$431.3 million to construction of 4,350 new and rehabilitation of 7,280 used cargo cars. At the same time, it is planned to direct US$43.8 million to construct 82 passenger cars and US$66 million to modernize 164 diesel and electricity locomotives.

Foundry Mechanical Engineering Plant was modernized in September 2013 to improve rolling-stock base. Some US$150 million was invested into the project.

The scheme facilitates foundry for localized production of more than 15 thousand tonnes of steel, in excess of 10 thousand tonnes of cast iron and 500 tonnes of nonferrous metals per annum, along with the manufacturing of 1,200 new train coaches, production of 950 large-capacity containers and the repair of 1,500 freight carriages.