DUSHANBE, January 16, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan’s Railways seeks investors for the purchase of locomotives, Vladimir Sobkalov, the deputy head of Tajik Railways, remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 16.
According to him, Tajikistan will offer China for consideration a project for the purchase of ten main and five shunting locomotives.
Sobkalov noted that the Tajik Railways head Amonullo Hukumov is accompanying President Rahmonov on his six-day visit to China. During his staying in Beijing, Hukumov is scheduled to meet with representatives from Chinese companies to discuss cooperation issues.
To purchase 10 main and 5 shunting locomotives Tajikistan needs $60 million. Tajik Railways is not able to purchase them and therefore seeks investors, according to the railway official. “China itself is interested in participation in projects aimed at modernization of the Tajik Railways,” Sobkalov added.
Tajikistan’s rolling-stock includes 1,766 cargo cars, 314 passenger carriages and 57 diesel locomotives. Last year, the railway repaired 57 passenger carriages at a cost of US $8.2 million and 52 cargo cars for US $242,000. All the train cars were repaired at the Tashkent carriage-building works in Uzbekistan. According to the railway officials, after repairs these train cars can serve another 8 to 10 years.
