BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 18. Seven new AC50
type freight locomotives have been added to the fleet of Azerbaijan
Railways (ADY) CJSC. Manufactured by the Chinese company CRRC
Ziyang Co., Ltd., the locomotives have already been delivered to
Baku and presented to the public, Trend's correspondent reports from the
event.
Journalists had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with
the technical capabilities of the new locomotives during the
presentation.
At first glance, the modern technical equipment of the new
locomotives stands out. They are designed for transporting
heavy-tonnage loads and for the more agile and safe management of
increasing freight flows along international transport
corridors.
Head of ADY’s Public Relations Department Bakhtiyar Hajiyev told
media representatives that the new locomotives comply with the
International Union of Railways (UIC) Stage IIIA environmental
standards.
"Global demand for freight transportation is currently
increasing, particularly along the Middle Corridor. Accordingly,
the number of block trains dispatched from China to Azerbaijan is
also rising. The new technology enables two locomotives to be
coupled together and operated by a single crew. This makes it
possible to transport heavier and longer freight trains over
greater distances," Hajiyev noted.
ADY isn't concluding the process of modernizing its locomotive
fleet with this. The company considers to purchase 14 freight
locomotives from China at the next stage.
Hajiyev told Trend that discussions regarding this are already
underway.
"The process remains at the negotiation stage, and the timeline
for finalizing the acquisition has not yet been determined," he
pointed out.
In the next part of the presentation, media representatives were
given the opportunity to view the interiors of the locomotives.
Journalists took a close look at the driver's cab, the control
panel, and the new electronic systems.
Yusif Temnikov is one of the train drivers who will operate the
new locomotives. He told journalists that one of the key
differences between the new machinery and the older locomotives is
the digitization of the control process.
"All systems in the new locomotives have been digitized. This
enables safer train operation and ensures safe delivery to the
destination. While previous locomotives might have hauled 3,000
tons of cargo, for instance, the new ones will make it possible to
transport 5,000 to 6,000 tons. This is beneficial for our country
as well," the driver said.
Temnikov also emphasized his pride in being among the first
drivers to operate the new locomotives.
The commissioning of the new locomotives is viewed not only as a
renewal of ADY’s rolling stock but also in terms of expanding
Azerbaijan’s transit potential.
Director of the CASPIA (Center for Analysis of Strategic Policy
and International Affairs), Orkhan Yolchuyev, told
reporters that the introduction of these seven new locomotives
would enhance Azerbaijan's competitiveness within international
transport corridors.
According to him, against the backdrop of shifts in global
transport and supply chains, for freight carriers, it is no longer
just the low cost of a route that matters; its stability and
predictability are also of great importance.
"Several international transport corridors pass through
Azerbaijan, with the East-West and North-South corridors being the
most actively utilized. The acquisition of new locomotives not only
boosts the shunting capabilities of Azerbaijan Railways but also
facilitates more seamless freight transportation," Yolchuyev
said.
He pointed out that, based on forecasts by international
institutions—including the World Bank—freight volumes along the
Middle Corridor are expected to at least triple by 2030.
"This indicates that Azerbaijan must be prepared for rising
cargo volumes. The purchase of new locomotives is part of this
preparation. Discussions are underway regarding the acquisition of
another 14 such locomotives in the next phase. Ultimately, these
measures will further boost Azerbaijan's competitiveness and
resilience as a transit country and logistics hub along both the
Middle Corridor and the North-South route," he emphasized.
Thus, the seven new AC50 freight locomotives brought to Baku
will serve both to modernize ADY’s rolling stock and to accommodate
the growing freight flow along the international transport
corridors passing through Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, ongoing
negotiations regarding the purchase of another 14 locomotives
indicate that the process of expanding the railway infrastructure
to handle increasing transit freight volumes will continue.
