Wabtec $4.2B Kazakhstan Locomotive Deal, 2026 Plant

Wabtec will supply 300 Evolution Series ES44ACi locomotives and roughly 15 years of service under a about $4.2 billion order from Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, a deal Wabtec called the largest in the company’s history. Kits for the ES44ACi will be produced with components from U.S. plants and undergo final assembly at Wabtec’s LKZ facility in Astana, and Wabtec plans to open its first diesel engine production plant outside the U.S. in Astana in 2026 to localize production and train personnel. U.S. officials said the sale will support thousands of American jobs in states including Pennsylvania and Texas. Kazakhstan framed the purchase as part of modernizing its rail network, boosting fuel efficiency and maintenance intervals, strengthening the Middle Corridor link between Europe and Asia, and developing local rail engineering capacity. The partnership includes commitments to technology transfer, workforce training, and long-term maintenance and technical support to expand Kazakhstan’s ability to maintain and modernize rolling stock.