Alstom to build 4 maintenance plants in Kazakhstan

French rail rolling stock manufacturer Alstom is building four maintenance centres in Kazakhstan. The total investment revolves around 50 million euros and the first site, located in the city of Shu near the border with Kyrgyzstan, shall be ready by early 2025, said the Kazakh Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov.

This is not Alstom’s first rodeo in Kazakhstan. The French company already had history with Kazakh Railways (KTZ) through deals signed in 2019 and one in 2022. The former also involved Knorr-Bremse and aimed at improving the braking system of 295 locomotives in Kazakhstan for the following 25 years. The latter entailed the delivery of 245 Alstom locomotives to KTZ up to 2029.

Increasing international interest in Kazakhstan

This deal with Alstom is just the latest of a list that shows a rise in interest from international companies to establish a presence in Kazakhstan. The country is not only attracting companies from the so-called West, with French Alstom and US-based Wabtec, but is also tightening its relations with Romania, Russia and China.

European Silk Road Summit 2024

Asia – Europe rail freight is one of the key topics to be discussed at the European Silk Road Summit 2024, taking place in Vienna on 27-28 November.

Registrations for the yearly event are already open, while the programme, which this year highlights the fast-recovering China-Europe rail market, is shaping up.