Kazakhstan Temir Zholy

2025: US Wabtec contract to build 300 locomotives in Astana

The American Wabtec will receive a contract for the construction of 300 locomotives for Kazakhstan Railways - this is the result of a meeting between the US President and President Tokayev New York in September 2025 Donald Trump , congratulated his colleague "on a wonderful purchase" of $4.2 billion and said that this "will support the American railway industry." Despite the deal being a continuation of the old project, Trump gets an opportunity to show that he continues to "make America great" by lifting US rail workers from his knees.

Kazakhstan recalled the level of localization of production of 45% at the Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty locomotive plant in Astana, owned by Wabtec. Tokayev linked the deal with "strengthening cooperation with the United States" and the development of the Trans-Caspian transport route (bypassing Russia).

2024: Agreement with Wabtec to supply a new batch of locomotives for $405 million

In the fall of 2024, KTZ and Wabtec agreed to supply the next batch of locomotives for $405 million, and also announced plans to purchase another 559 cars by 2029. We are talking about the products of the Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty plant in Astana.

2023: Russian Transmashholding forced to sell 50% stake in locomotive manufacturer in Astana to Wabtec due to sanctions during conflict in Ukraine

Until 2023, the Russian Transmashholding owned the Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty plant in Astana on parity terms with Wabtec, until it was forced out of production under the influence of sanctions during the conflict in Ukraine, losing its 50% stake to the American company.

2009: GE Transportation starts supplying locomotives to Kazakhstan and later launches plant in Astana with Transmashholding

The Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) inherited from the USSR not a new fleet of diesel locomotives, which required scarce spare parts produced in Lugansk to operate - which forced the republic's leadership to look for a way out.

The choice fell on GE Transportation from the United States - a subsidiary of Wabtec. At that time, Russian Railways themselves depended on supplies from Lugansk, and in China production had not yet reached the desired level.

Since 2009, GE Transportation began supplying diesel locomotives to Kazakhstan, and later production was launched on the basis of the Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty plant in Astana, which by 2025 produced 451 locomotives. 50% of the shares of the joint venture belonged to the Russian Transmashholding. In terms of quality, these diesel locomotives became a successful investment, which later appeared in other countries of Central Asia and Transcaucasia.

1997: Creation of KTZ by combining the three railways remaining from the USSR

The republican state enterprise "Қazaқstan Temir Zholy" was created by Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan of January 31, 1997 No. 129 "On the reorganization of railway enterprises of the Republic of Kazakhstan" by merging republican state enterprises:

• Almaty Railway Administration,
• Directorate of the Virgin Railway and
• West Kazakhstan Railway Administration.

The purpose of the merger was to optimize the structure of transportation process management and eliminate unnecessary links, financial and economic recovery of the railway industry.