Georgian Railway will purchase 200 new freight wagons directly from Russia’s Roslavl Railcar Manufacturing Plant (AO Roslavsky VRZ), saying the manufacturer is not under sanctions. The company said this is the first time it has purchased freight wagons directly from a manufacturer without an intermediary.
The Georgian Railway Supervisory Board approved the purchase on August 27, 2026. According to documents published by the State Procurement Agency, the contract is worth $9.6 million excluding VAT, or $48,000 per wagon. The wagons are to be delivered within 60 calendar days, with payment made in Russian rubles based on the National Bank of Georgia’s exchange rate on the date of final acceptance.
Georgian Railway said the purchase was conducted through a competitive procedure in which manufacturers from different countries had equal opportunities to participate. The company said eliminating the intermediary reduced procurement costs, while the contract provides for a 32-year service life, compared with the 22 years specified in the procurement requirements. The railway will also not be required to make an advance payment.
The purchase follows several unsuccessful attempts to procure freight wagons. A GEL 29 million tender for 200 wagons launched in July was terminated the same day, while a GEL 17.4 million tender for 120 wagons in February ended after all four bidders were disqualified. A GEL 55 million tender for 300 wagons in December 2023 received no bids. Georgian Railway said the new purchase will help renew its fleet, increase capacity, operational efficiency and competitiveness, and that it plans to continue purchasing new freight wagons from various manufacturers.
