Georgia cancels Russian locomotive order due to fear of sanctions

Georgian Railways has cancelled a locomotive order from a Russian production plant. Georgia wants to avoid the risk of secondary sanctions by doing business with the sanctioned company. Reportedly, it will get Chinese locomotives instead.

The cancellation concerns an order of ten Russian electric “3ЭС6” locomotives, according to Russian publication Rollingstockworld. The locomotives were supposed to be produced by the “Ural Locomotives” production plant, which is a subsidiary of the Sinara – Transport Machines company. That company was sanctioned by the US in June 2024. Now, Georgia is seemingly trying to play it safe and will look for another manufacturer instead to avoid secondary sanctions.

China to be the new supplier

According to Rollingstockworld, the locomotives would run on the vital Baku – Tbilisi – Kars line. It is part of the Middle Corridor, connecting China and Europe overland. Georgian Railways reportedly stressed the line’s importance for the country’s economic development.

With the annulment of the contract, the Russian production plant is missing out on a deal worth 68,3 million dollars. The beneficiary of Georgia’s move will be the Chinese company CRRC, says Rollingstockworld.