Alstom reports: Alstom’s JV EKZ became the first train manufacturer in Kazakhstan to receive the IRIS certification (International Railway Industry Standard).This certification has been established based on the ISO 9001 standard, with the goal of securing higher quality in the railway industry. It is the only sector-specific quality standard recognised worldwide by the rail industry for assessing management systems.

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EKZ employs 420 people and is working on supplying and maintaining the Prima electric locomotives ordered by KTZ for 2020. Today, 42 Prima T8 (Railcolor: KZ8A) freight locomotives and 20 Prima M4 (Railcolor: KZ4a) passenger locomotives are already in commercial operation on Kazakhstan’s rail lines. In 2015, Alstom and EKZ were awarded by Azerbaijan Railways a contract to deliver 50 locomotives to Azerbaijan.

Alstom is present in Kazakhstan with more than 600 people, two Joint Ventures and two plants, EKZ in Astana for locomotives manufacturing and maintenance; and KazElectroPrivod in Almaty for the production of point machines. Alstom is the only manufacturer of electric locomotives and point machines in the Central Asian and Caucasian region and a major contributor to the revitalisation of its rail industry and the development of its economy.

In the French media today and on railjournal.com:

'France’s industry minister Mr Christophe Sirugue told a meeting of union representatives and elected officials in Belfort on October 4 that the French government will fund an order for 15 TGV Euroduplex trains and 20 locomotives to save Alstom’s plant in the town from closure.

Sirugue also confirmed that French National Railways (SNCF) will also order a batch of six TGVs for Paris - Lyon - Turin services. Power cars for all 21 trains will be built at Belfort, securing the medium-term future of the plant, which employs 480 staff.'

Railcolor: it is not an order yet, but a plan. Last September, Alstom announced to close the Belfort site as a manufacturing location and to reform it as service point. 400 of the 480 employees would be re-assigned to another Alstom factory in France. However, president Mr François Hollande intervened and blocked the plan. Not only does he care about the factory and its workforce, Hollande is also facing elections next year and closing yet another factory is bad news for his campaign.

But if this new 'save Belfort' plan will be executed is to be seen. It depends on whether or not this governmental intervention is regarded as (illegal) state aid or not. Next to that, Alstom was not planning to stop locomotive production, nor firing people. It was slimming down its production capacity as its order portfolio was not as full as envisaged. Alstom was planning on moving its locomotive production to Reichshoffen, what will happen there when Belfort stays open? And of course there is the more general question, what is to become of Belfort on the long term? The possible new order will only bring work for around 1,5-2 years. To be continued.

Update: Lok-report.de brings a summary (scroll down) of what has been communicated in the French press yesterday. Additionally, Philippe Jacqué is answering questions from readers. The extra TGVs can be ordered directly from existing frame contracts. Curious is that some of the new TGVs will be used on conventional intercity lines.

Alstom will have to invest 40 million euro in Belfort, to be used for expanding it product portfolio (locomotives and electric busses), creating new jobs in the service department. 30 million euro will go into the 'development of new diesel or hybrid locomotives'.

Alstom reports it has set a high-speed record in Kazakhstan reaching 200 km/h while conducting tests on its KZ4AT passenger locomotive on the Moiynty-Kiik line South East of Astana. These dynamic tests are part of the validation process in order to allow the locomotives to run up to their maximum design speed during commercial operation.

“We are very pleased and proud that those tests were successful and that we reached 200 km/h for the first time in the railway history of Kazakhstan. This record opens new promising prospects for Kazakhstan as an important hub linking Europe, Middle East, Asia and Russia through new Silk Way”, said Bernard Peille, Managing Director South CIS Alstom.

The production of locomotives is localised at the EKZ plant in Astana, jointly owned by Alstom (50%), KTZ (25%) and Transmashholding (25%).

With 14,000 km of track, the Kazakh railway network is the world’s third biggest network using the 1,520 mm track gauge and represents a substantial market for signalling equipment as well as maintenance activities.

Yes, right now the 2015 edition of Expo2015 is live and happening. And not without a nice parade of the old and the new. Check it out:

BTW, relevant for Railcolor, these locomotives are shown at Expo2015:

Alstom+Transmashholding EP20-048
Alstom+Transmashholding+KTZ KZ4At-0003
Siemens+Sinara 2ES7-001
Bombardier+PLZ 2EV120-001

After approval by the relevant authorities, Alstom will become the main shareholder in EKZ, KTZ and TMH both holding 25% of the joint venture based in Astana. With Alstom as major shareholder, EKZ scope will be extended to maintenance activities with the creation of a service centre.

“The agreement and the contract signed today show the sustainability of Alstom’s global strategy. By increasing Alstom’s share in EKZ, we show our confidence in the attractiveness of Kazakhstan investment environment and we contribute to the development of new expertise and skills locally to address not only Kazakhstan’s needs but also regional ones. This major maintenance contract confirms Alstom’s commitment to the modernisation of the rail industry and to the dynamism of Kazakhstan and central Asia with its rolling stock expertise and maintenance activities” said Martin Vaujour, Managing Director, Alstom Transport Central Asia.

Kazakhstan is an important hub linking Europe, Middle East, Asia and Russia through the new Silk Way. With almost 20,000 km of tracks, the Kazakh railway network is the world’s third biggest using the 1,520 mm track gauge. Besides wide and winterized rolling stock able to run in temperatures reaching -50°C, this market is characterised by very specific technical standards which require adapted engineering solutions. Alstom entered the Kazakhstan’s railway market in June 2010 together with its Russian partner Transmashholding, by laying the first stone of the EKZ facility.

The plant is working on supplying the electric locomotives ordered by KTZ by 2020[2]. Today, 24 KZ8A locomotives are already in operation on Kazakhstan’s rail lines, and the KZ4AT has passed its first dynamic tests at the speed of 200 km/h. Earlier this year, Azerbaijan Railways awarded a contract to EKZ to deliver 50 additional KZ8A locomotives to Azerbaijan.

The complete press statement. KZ8A for Kazakhstan AZ8A for Azerbadjan KZ8A for Kazakhstan KZ4At for Kazakhstan

Now the second round of 'talks' has began. The French government does not oppose the bid from GE. The French Industry minister favors the Siemens bid. Let's see how this will continue.

Update 2: The battle intensifies. Alstom Prima Demonstrator KZ8A for Kazakhstan KZ4At for Kazakhstan

More information is found on the website of EKZ: Ekz.com. EKZ is the new locomotive building facility in Astana, Kazakhstan, where Alstom and its partner Transmashholding from Russia will construct the majority of the KZ8A and KZ4AT locomotives in the near future. The EKZ factory is setup in a joint-venture with the Kazakhstan railways. KZ4At for Kazakhstan

Alstom should be finalizing the first KZ4AT locomotives in Belfort by now. It is the second type of the 295 unit order placed back in 2010 by the railways of Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan Temir Zholy). We already know the KZ8A twin-unit freight locomotives, this Railcolor impression gives a first idea of the final design of the 95 KZ4AT passenger locomotives. The KZ4AY will be a 4-axle machine with a top speed of 200 kph and 4.8 MW duration power.

Like with the KZ8A, ten machines will be completely built in Belfort (FR), then shifting production the the EKZ production facility in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Railcolor: Time for some creative speculation. The image shows you what a 200 kph PrimaII for Kazachstan could look like. To be clear, it is a Railcolor design, nothing officially from Alstom. KZ4At for Kazakhstan

It was already known that the TMH/Alstom combination was aiming at the Kazakhstan market and now they have succeeded: 295 single- and twin-unit electrics are being ordered by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy. Note that Alstom's French locomotive factory in Belfort will construct complete units this time.

Don't forget that also Siemens will built 221 2ES10 twin-section electrics in the next years. I may be quiet in Europe... it is sure compensated by whats happening in the near and far east!

In short:
Alstom/TMH: 200 EP20 for Russia
Alstom/TMH: 2xx 2ES5 for Russia
KTZ/Alstom/TMH: 95 KZ4a and 200 KZ8a for Kazachstan
Siemens/Sinara: 221 2ES10 for Russia
KZ8A for Kazakhstan KZ4At for Kazakhstan RZD 2ES10 -Granit- Alstom and Transmashholding