Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Uzbekistan receives the first batch of modern and powerful freight and cargo-passenger locomotives from China within the project “Renewal of the fleet of locomotives by purchasing locomotives” with the participation of the Asian Development Bank.

In total, it is planned to deliver to 30 modern electric locomotives and spare parts for them to Uzbekistan. The new locomotives are designed for passenger and cargo transportation capable of transporting goods, including heavy ones, in mountain ranges with difficult terrain. 

Electric locomotives meet international requirements for environmental safety and are equipped with asynchronous traction motors. Modern technologies used in locomotives, along with energy savings, can also reduce fuel consumption.

The resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 6 March 2015 “On the program for the development and modernization of engineering, communication and road transport infrastructure for 2015 – 2019” envisages the implementation of the project “Renewal of the locomotive fleet by purchasing 24 units of locomotives”.

On 27 February 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan approved the implementation of the project "Renewal of the locomotive fleet" within the framework of the Cooperation Program between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank with the attraction of borrowed funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). On 30 August 2019, the loan agreement for the project was signed in the amount of US$170 million with ADB.

As a result of the international tender held on 17 July 2019, a contract was signed with the CNTIC-CRRC-DRLOCO consortium for the supply of 24 two-body electric locomotives (16 freight and 8 cargo-passenger) in the amount of US$134.6 million. The terms of delivery of electric locomotives in accordance with the contract are determined by 2021-2022.

At the same time, taking into account the need of Uzbekiston Temir Yollari in freight electric locomotives, the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Uzbekiston Temir Yollari in January 2020 applied to ADB to approve the signing of an additional agreement for the supply of additional 6 electric locomotives and spare parts for the project savings in the amount of US$35.37 million. ADB approved this request in February 2020.

To date, the 1st batch of electric locomotives in the amount of 4 units (3 freight and 1 cargo-passenger) and spare parts have been shipped. On December 9 of this year, the first two-section freight locomotive from this batch, upon completion of the commissioning work, went into a run-in. In the coming days, it is expected to ship the 2nd batch of electric locomotives in the amount of 5 units (3 freight and 2 cargo-passenger). By the end of 2020, it is planned to ship the 3rd batch of electric locomotives in the amount of 3 units (3 freight). In 2021, it is planned to supply the remaining lots of electric locomotives in accordance with the contract in the amount of 13 units of freight and 5 units of freight-passenger electric locomotives.

At present, more than 50 percent of the available locomotives have been updated in the locomotive fleet of Uzbekiston Temir Yollari.