Wabtec Corporation has announced a more than $700 million long-term services agreement with La Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG) to support its fleet of new Evolution Series locomotives. The agreement is Wabtec’s largest services contract in Africa. Combined with locomotive orders placed in 2024, it brings the total value of Wabtec’s contracts for the Simandou project to more than $1.2 billion.
CTG’s more than 600-kilometre railway connects the Simandou mine with the Port of Morebaya. The railway will transport iron ore, passengers and non-mining goods, providing a transport link between the mining operation and the port.
The project is one of the largest infrastructure investments in Guinea’s history and is intended to support economic development in the country.
“This agreement will support the reliable operation of the railway and the availability of the locomotive fleet,” said Sameer Gaur, President, Global Freight Services for Wabtec. “The scope includes maintenance, parts and components support, workforce development, skills training and partnerships with Guinean businesses.”
The multi-year services agreement covers CTG’s operational requirements and long-term fleet strategy. Its scope includes scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, parts and component overhauls, parts management, logistics support, training, remote diagnostics and localisation activities.
The services will support CTG’s fleet of Wabtec ES43AC locomotives, powered by 4,500-horsepower Evolution Series engines. The locomotives will operate in eastern Guinea, where conditions include high temperatures and demanding operating environments.
“The TransGuinean Railway is one of Africa’s significant rail infrastructure projects, and operating it successfully requires technology and support, as well as a commitment to localisation and technology transfer,” said Mamoudou Nagnalen Barry, Chairman of the TransGuinéen Company.
“This agreement is intended to support the long-term performance of the locomotive fleet as we work to build a railway designed to contribute to economic growth and development across Guinea. It also highlights Guinea’s vision to build partnerships with American companies and access technologies from around the world,” added Bouna Sylla, Minister of Mines and Geology of Guinea.
