ERIE, Pa. — GE Transportation announced that Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has taken delivery of the 3,000th Evolution Series locomotive produced at GE Transportation’s Erie, Pa., manufacturing site.
One Evolution Series locomotive can pull the equivalent of 170 Boeing 747 “Jumbo Jet” airliners.
In 2006, KTZ ordered 310 GE Evolution Series locomotives and the first ten units, including the 3,000th, have arrived in Kazakhstan. Three hundred additional locomotives will be assembled in Kazakhstan starting at the end of 2009 from kits and parts produced in Erie.
This is the 3,000th Evolution Series locomotive since its introduction to the market in 2005. Four years ago, GE Transportation reinvented what a locomotive could be, and today, with this major milestone delivery, 3,000 Evolution Series locomotives are now serving the infrastructure development of countries around the world, while providing economic and environmental benefits of fuel savings and decreased emissions.
Beyond Kazakhstan, GE Transportation has developed innovative locomotives based on the Evolution Series platform for markets in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt and the United States.
“GE and Kazakhstan have a long and fruitful history of working together,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, president and CEO of GE Transportation. “Since 1995, GE and KTZ have collaborated to drive Kazakhstan’s economic development. The delivery of the 3000th Evolution locomotive marks an important milestone for our relationship with KTZ and Kazakhstan as well as being a great example of how globalization has opened up growth opportunities for GE Transportation. We look forward to building upon our productive relationships in Kazakhstan to serve the country’s infrastructure needs.”
KTZ manages a fleet of approximately 2,000 locomotives and 14,000 km of rail lines. Rich in oil, natural gas, coal and iron ore, Kazakhstan also serves as a vital hub for trade across the entire region, including Russia, China and the former Soviet states of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The development of the rail industry and Kazakhstan go hand-in-hand as rail transports coal, minerals and other commodities in Kazakhstan. The arrival of the Evolution Series locomotives enables KTZ to pursue its growth plans in the country and region.
Kazakhstan is an important market for GE Transportation because in addition to the sale of locomotives, GE Transportation has plans to collaborate on other projects, such as service agreements and signaling projects, so that Kazakhstan will serve as a showcase for the region and beyond, the company said.
