President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the electric locomotive manufacturing plant operating within Industrial Zone No. 1 of Astana, examining firsthand the capabilities of Kazakhstan's flagship rolling stock facility. The plant was established under a French company Alstom industrialization program that has steadily built domestic manufacturing capacity over recent years.
Plant management informed the head of state that the enterprise has produced and currently services 380 freight electric locomotives and 70 passenger electric locomotives along with their key components for Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway company. The facility has also fulfilled an export contract, shipping 80 sections of freight electric locomotives to Azerbaijan.
During his tour of the workshops, Tokayev was briefed on development progress for a new generation of locomotives. Engineers reported that the emerging model achieves a 40% reduction in production cost while delivering a 20% improvement in operational efficiency compared to current platforms. Serial production of the new freight electric locomotives is targeted to commence in 2028.
Alstom is simultaneously investing in a network of service centers across four locations: Astana, Almaty, Shu, and Arys. The expansion program is projected to generate an additional 700 direct employment positions within the railway services sector.
Tokayev also reviewed displays from domestic manufacturers forming Kazakhstan's broader railway industrial cluster. More than 600 companies currently participate in parts and components production for the sector, with their products and services reaching export markets in 25 countries worldwide.
Meeting with young specialists at the assembly plant, the President noted that 2025 has been designated as the Year of Working Professions, emphasizing continued state support for young people entering the manufacturing workforce.