China Delivers First Mainline Electric Locomotive CEA1 to Kazakhstan

The first mainline electric locomotive made in China has arrived in Kazakhstan from CRRC and will soon undergo mandatory certification tests. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The six-axle CEA1 locomotive was manufactured in Zhuzhou for TTT-Service, a subsidiary of private freight operator SilkwayTransit. The unit was delivered at the end of April.

Don’t miss…EU considers transitional measures to support Ukraine’s exports

Engineers equipped the locomotive with a 7.2 MW power output and designed it to operate in temperatures ranging from –50°C to +50°C. Its top speed reaches 120 km/h.

Contract for mainline electric locomotive includes 10 units

Kazakhstan signed a contract for 10 Chinese locomotives after halting imports of the 2ES7 models from Russia. The new deliveries aim to resolve the shortage of traction units.

This move aligns with SilkwayTransit’s strategy to diversify suppliers and modernize its fleet. Cooperation with CRRC enhances logistics independence and reduces geopolitical risks.

Mainline electric locomotive CEA1 planned for local assembly

The partners are discussing the creation of a locomotive assembly facility in Kazakhstan. This would support local production and shorten delivery timelines.

CRRC already operates across broad-gauge markets. In 2012, it supplied 12 BKG1 freight locomotives to Belarus. Deliveries to Uzbekistan continue as well.

The project with SilkwayTransit highlights growing demand for Chinese technology across the Eurasian Economic Union. CRRC’s mainline locomotives perform reliably under the region’s extreme climate conditions.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: