Background

The Agreement of Cooperation in the NGV sector between Gazprom, Russian Railways, Sinara Group, and Transmashholding was signed in June 2016. The document is aimed at promoting natural gas use in railway and motor transport, mitigating environmental impacts, facilitating NGV market growth, increasing domestic gas consumption, and fostering the national machine building industry.

Russian Railways is among the world's top three railway companies providing for 45.3 per cent of the aggregate cargo turnover and 26.4 per cent of the passenger turnover in Russia. The Russian Federation is the founder and sole shareholder of Russian Railways.

In 2005, Russian Railways launched a project aimed at designing and manufacturing a liquefied natural gas-powered locomotive (gas turbine locomotive) within the framework of its strategy for increasing energy efficiency in transportation. The first trips of the gas turbine locomotive proved its efficiency in heavy train transportation. In 2009, the gas turbine locomotive was used in transporting a 15,200-ton freight train, setting a world record for a self-powered locomotive with one propulsion unit.

Based on Russian Railways' specifications, Russian companies manufactured two mainline gas turbine locomotives and one gas turbine shunter, all of them powered by LNG. They are in regular service at the Egorshino – Serov-Sortirovochny section of the Sverdlovsk Railway.

Sinara-Transport Machines is the machine building holding of Sinara Group focused on engineering, manufacturing and maintenance of railroad machinery and diesel plants.

Transmashholding is a leading Russian manufacturer of rolling stock for railways and public transport. It produces, inter alia, locomotives, electric and diesel trains, passenger cars, and freight wagons.