DUSHANBE, February 20, 2012, Asia-Plus — The first two of six Kazakh-produced locomotives are expected to arrive in Dushanbe soon, Vladimir Sobkalov, the deputy chairman of Tajik Railways, told Asia-Plus Monday afternoon.
According to Kazakhstan’s Railways press center, the first two locomotives were sent from Kazakhstan’s locomotive producer Kurastyru Zauyty to Tajikistan on February 17.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sobkalov says “According to our information, the locomotives have not yet been sent from Kurastyru Zauyty to Tajikistan.” “Delays are connected with some internal problems and the locomotives are expected to be sent today,” he added.
Kazakhstan agreed to sell six locomotives to Tajikistan, its first-ever export of railway engines, in November 2011. An appropriate contract was inked by Tajik Railways and Kurastyru Zauyty in Dushanbe.
Under the contract, six locomotives assembled in Kazakhstan under a license of General Electric Company, an American multinational conglomerate corporation, will arrive in Tajikistan in three stages: two locomotives in February and four locomotives in March.
Tajikistan’s rolling-stock now includes 1,929 cargo cars, 424 passenger carriages and 55 diesel locomotives.
