Georgian Railway is preparing an international procurement to purchase 10 new electric passenger trains under a project backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project’s estimated budget is $246 million, putting the indicative cost at approximately $24.6 million per train. The company has launched preliminary market research to assess manufacturers, refine technical requirements and determine delivery conditions before finalizing tender documents.
Each train will consist of three carriages, with at least 200 seats and a design speed of 160 km/h. The trains will have a maximum operating speed of 120 km/h, traction motors with a maximum power output of 2,000 kW and a projected service life of 40 years for the carriage bodies. The purchase will cover 30 carriages in total.
The new trains are intended to help address shortages and increase service frequency on routes including Tbilisi–Batumi, Tbilisi–Poti, Tbilisi–Zugdidi and Tbilisi–Kutaisi. Technical requirements include compatibility with Georgia’s 1,520 mm railway gauge and 3,000-volt DC power supply. The trains must also operate in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +45°C and at altitudes of at least 1,200 meters above sea level.
According to Georgian Railway’s preliminary supplier questionnaire, all 10 trains are expected to be delivered within 18 months of the contract taking effect. Potential manufacturers are being asked to outline their production capacity, proposed delivery schedules, relevant contracts completed over the past decade and advance payment requirements. The final procurement terms will be determined after the market research is completed.
