More than 70% of the existing railway locomotives in Georgia have already exceeded their service life, and the aging equipment seriously restricts the efficiency of the trans Caspian transport corridor. The local railway company has launched a large-scale international bidding for the purchase of electric locomotives, with additional requirements such as the construction of maintenance bases. The strict bidding threshold selects high-quality manufacturers, and Chinese rail transit enterprises that deeply cultivate the local market have strong competitive advantages.

Core content of bidding

The Georgian Railway Company plans to purchase 45 mainline freight electric locomotives in this bidding process, with a total project amount of 350 million US dollars. Each locomotive is equivalent to 7.77 million US dollars, and the bidding deadline is set for October 30, 2026. The project is jointly financed by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank and belongs to the Trans Caspian Transport Corridor Transportation Upgrade Project. The winning bidder shall be fully responsible for the design, manufacturing, delivery, and commissioning of locomotives, providing a two-year warranty and up to 10 years of technical operation and maintenance services. The first locomotive shall be delivered within 27 months, and the overall contract period shall be up to 55 months. An additional requirement is for the winning bidder to build a dedicated locomotive maintenance base in Hashuri, with the land provided by Georgian Railways free of charge.

Strict admission standards for beginners

This bidding process sets multiple levels of hard core admission requirements. Bidders must have two or more single supply performances of no less than 10 freight electric locomotives in the past decade, and have experience in major repairs and maintenance of 20 or more locomotives. The manufacturer must have ten years of experience in manufacturing similar locomotives, with an annual output of no less than 18 units. The product must also have at least one year of stable commercial operation records and submit a complete network security risk control plan. The evaluation adopts a comprehensive scoring model, with price weight accounting for 60% and technical and supporting services accounting for 40%. The overall screening criteria are very strict.

Chinese enterprises have a bright future in Haili

This batch of car purchases by Georgia is the first large-scale procurement of new mainline freight locomotives since independence. Currently, 78 out of 91 locomotives in use have been in service for over 35 years, and equipment updates are urgently needed. Previously, the winning projects of Russian companies were cancelled midway due to sanctions, which also made room for external high-quality manufacturers. In the future, the local government plans to purchase 1500 trucks and 10 passenger trains, but some bids have been rejected. Keywords: Georgian railway bidding, electric locomotive procurement

CRRC's multiple subsidiaries have previously implemented projects to build traction motors and locomotives for subway vehicles and high-speed trains, accumulating a good local reputation. They are expected to win this large order with their technological, delivery, and full chain service advantages, further consolidating the market share of China's rail transit equipment in the Caucasus region.Editor/Min Jing