Ukrainian Railways signals intent to work with Alstom on renewal of electric locomotive fleet

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Photo: Alstom.
Photo: Alstom.
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An initial agreement has been reached between Alstom and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) over the provision and maintenance of electric locomotives.

Signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the trade show InnoTrans, UZ acting chair Yevgen Kravtsov said it represents the starting point of cooperation between the two parties.

He added: “Our strategic goal is to renew our fleet of locomotives. As we already have a strategic partner in the supply of diesel locomotives, we are actively exploring the possibilities for the effective cooperation on the renewal of the electric locomotive fleet.”


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“Maximum localisation” is an essential condition of the cooperation Kravtsov added. Alstom has already opened an office in the country following preliminary meetings in April.

Alstom chair and CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge, who also signed the MOU, said: “We see the high potential of the Ukrainian market, and we would be proud to contribute to the modernisation of the country’s railway infrastructure and its further integration within the broader European railway market.”

UZ seeks to increase the amount of electrified railways from 47 per cent to 54 per cent in the next two years.


Read more: France to begin testing hybrid trains in 2020