Azerbaijan Railways has taken delivery in Baku of seven AC50 freight locomotives built by China’s CRRC Ziyang and is negotiating 14 more freight locomotives, model and supplier unnamed.

Three Azerbaijan Railways AC50 freight locomotives lined up at a Baku depot
Three Azerbaijan Railways AC50 freight locomotives are lined up at a depot in Baku. Photo: Azerbaijan Railways (ADY).

The mainline units went to Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY), which is part of AZCON Holding. In a report by the state news agency AZERTAC, ADY said the new locomotives will haul freight on international transport corridors. It presents the delivery as one step in a wider renewal of its locomotive fleet, set against growing freight volumes on those routes.

AC50 features for heavy freight trains

The AC50 is a diesel design: the agency’s Russian-language report describes the units as mainline diesel locomotives. ADY lists high tractive power, a large fuel tank and updated control and safety systems among their features. Servicing is scheduled every 90 days, which the operator expects to keep the fleet in steadier use. Each unit has two compressors feeding a main air reservoir of 2,000 litres, a setup ADY links to hauling longer trains.

Two AC50s can also be coupled and driven by a single locomotive crew. ADY expects this arrangement to move more freight by rail, make heavy trains more efficient to run and put the locomotives to better use. ADY says the model meets the International Union of Railways (UIC) Stage IIIA emissions standard, which in its view lets the locomotives operate freely where special emissions rules apply.

Earlier Alstom order for electric freight locomotives

The new diesels follow an earlier freight purchase that relied on electric traction. In 2014, ADY signed a €288 million contract with Alstom for 50 electric locomotives: 40 Prima T8 AZ8A heavy freight units built at the EKZ joint venture in Kazakhstan, plus 10 Prima M4 AZ4A passenger locomotives. The last of the 40 freight units was delivered in February 2022. Railway Supply’s profile of the Prima T8 describes it as a two-section heavy freight locomotive.

Inside the driver’s cab of an AC50 freight locomotive in Baku
The control desk inside an AC50 freight locomotive in Baku. Photo: Nijat Hashimov / AZERTAC.

Talks on 14 more freight locomotives

ADY says negotiations are under way on the next phase of its fleet renewal, which involves buying 14 additional freight locomotives. The report names no model, supplier, signing date or delivery schedule for this batch. The company also intends to expand the technical capabilities of its freight and passenger rolling stock.