Russia’s Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NEVZ), the country’s largest manufacturer of mainline and industrial electric locomotives, is upgrading its production facilities while preparing to introduce several new locomotive models. The modernization program aims to support both freight operations and the next generation of passenger trains by integrating sophisticated machine tools, expanded painting capacity, and investment in prototype development.
The scale of the investment is significant. During the first eight months of 2026, NEVZ allocated over 2.3 billion rubles to its production facilities. The development and testing of new locomotives were supported by substantial additional funding, while over 1.2 billion rubles were allocated to modernizing and enlarging its painting facilities.
The factory is not simply improving its existing production lines. It is currently in the process of transitioning to modern traction technologies, more powerful freight machines, and new passenger locomotives that are specifically designed to satisfy the evolving railroad needs of Russia.
How Large Is NEVZ Compared with the World’s Railway Manufacturers?
NEVZ is a prominent player in the electric locomotive industry of Russia and is also regarded as one of the largest locomotive manufacturers in Europe by regional industry sources. According to its published company profile, the plant has been in operation since 1936 and has produced 75 locomotive types. Additionally, it employs over 4,500 individuals.
By the standards of specialized locomotive factories, its manufacturing capability is substantial. The annual production capacity of NEVZ is approximately 550 locomotive sections, and its painting modernization program is intended to accommodate up to 630 sections annually. These figures pertain to locomotive sections rather than complete locomotives, a critical distinction due to the fact that numerous heavy freight locomotives are composed of two, three, or more separate sections.
Nevertheless, NEVZ should not be confused with the world’s largest railway manufacturing groups. China’s CRRC is a much larger industrial entity that produces electric locomotives, passenger trains, multiple-unit trains, metro vehicles, freight carriages, and other railroad equipment. Alstom and Siemens Mobility are among the European manufacturers that operate in a variety of international markets and railroad product categories.
CRRC reported the sale of 813 locomotives in 2025, in addition to thousands of other railway vehicles, as a comparable measure. This figure pertains to the company’s locomotive sales, rather than electric locomotives exclusively, and therefore cannot be directly contrasted with NEVZ’s annual capacity, which is measured in sections.
NEVZ’s significance is derived from its focus on mainline electric locomotives and its position within Russia’s railway supply chain. It is a crucial production hub for Transmashholding, the nation’s largest rolling-stock manufacturer, and it predominantly supplies locomotives to Russian Railways.
In other words, NEVZ is a prominent specialist manufacturer that plays a significant role in the European and Russian locomotive industries. However, the global market also includes much larger diversified railroad equipment groups.
Painting Capacity Expands as Factory Modernisation Accelerates
Reconstruction and expansion of NEVZ’s painting operations, which commenced in 2024, are the main objectives of the project. The primary structure of the new painting facility had been completed by September 2026, and the installation of technological equipment was underway.
The improved facility is expected to increase the painting capacity of 630 locomotive sections annually once it is operational. The project has a total investment of approximately 4.9 billion rubles, which includes a preferential loan from Russia’s Industrial Development Fund.
The new equipment is designed to improve the control of the entire painting process, from the preparation of the surface to the application of protective and finishing coatings. Locomotives that are subjected to severe winters, moisture, grime, and other demanding operating conditions require consistent coating quality.
The expansion also resolves a potential production constraint. The value of increasing the assembly output of locomotive bodies and sections is limited if they must be delayed for painting. Production flow should be enhanced, and future manufacturing requirements should be accommodated by expanding this section of the factory.
More Than 120 Million Roubles Invested in New Equipment
The factory commissioned over ten pieces of modern equipment, each valued at over 120 million rubles, during the first half of 2026. The bogie workshop, rolling-stock repair facilities, acceptance-testing operations, and central factory laboratory are all included in the upgrades.
The bogie workshop has implemented a computer numerical control vertical turning machine in conjunction with a milling and centering machine for the purpose of preparing axle-center openings. Before the conclusion of the year, an additional lathe was anticipated for preliminary axle machining.
Additionally, NEVZ has upgraded an induction heater that is used to secure wheel tyres to wheel centers through shrink-fitting. The process’s efficiency is enhanced by the reduction of energy consumption and heating time, which is a result of the upgrade.
The testing infrastructure is also being given attention. At the acceptance-testing section, a device has been implemented to code the test cable, which is utilized to verify the automatic locomotive signaling. This equipment is instrumental in the verification of onboard systems prior to the entry of locomotives into service.
These investments are especially pertinent as the factory transitions from conventional locomotive designs to new platforms that necessitate prototype construction, testing, and ultimately serial production.
The Yermak Remains the Backbone of Freight Production
NEVZ continues to rely heavily on its established Yermak family of AC freight electric locomotives. These machines are an essential component of Russia’s mainline freight fleet, particularly on routes where heavy trains and challenging operating conditions necessitate substantial tractive effort.
An important milestone for the series was achieved in August 2026 when the facility produced its 1,700th three-section 3ES5K Yermak locomotive. According to the production figures provided, it produced 144 locomotives, each of which consisted of 344 sections, in the first eleven months of 2025.
The Yermak family continues to be central to the factory’s duties; however, the company is also in the process of developing new platforms with asynchronous traction drives. These systems provide advanced traction control and can enhance the operational performance and maintenance characteristics.
2EP21 and 2EP22: Establishing a Successor to EP20
One of the most significant projects is the development of the 2EP21 and 2EP22 passenger electric locomotives. NEVZ intends to produce prototype units of these dual-system locomotives, which are intended for use on both AC and DC electrified railroad lines.
The two variants are designed to operate at varying speeds. The 2EP21 is intended for speeds of up to 160 km/h, while the 2EP22 is intended for speeds of up to 200 km/h. Both are defined as having a power rating of 9,600 kW and asynchronous traction drives.
The significance of their development is that the production of the EP20 passenger locomotive, which is older, has ceased, necessitating maintenance and repair to maintain the current fleet. These new models are designed to serve as a domestic replacement and facilitate push-pull passenger services, such as trains that operate between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Dual-system capability would enable trains to traverse railroad sections that are electrified differently without necessitating a locomotive change, potentially simplifying operations on appropriate routes.
The 2ES9 Targets Russia’s Heaviest Freight Trains
The 2ES9, a new two-section AC freight locomotive, is another major initiative that is currently being developed for the demanding operations of Russia’s Eastern Railroad network, specifically the Baikal-Amur Mainline and Trans-Siberian Railroad.
The 2ES9 is engineered to transport freight trains carrying up to 7,100 tons at speeds of up to 120 km/h and is built around an asynchronous traction drive. The number of locomotive sections required for specific heavy-haul assignments may be reduced by its higher-power design, contingent upon the operating requirements, track conditions, and gradients.
The development also entails the integration of domestically produced apparatus and the preparation of the factory for new manufacturing processes. These procedures are crucial for locomotives that are designed to operate on some of Russia’s most challenging freight corridors.
A More Comprehensive Industrial Revolution
NEVZ is also in the process of developing the EMKA2, a shunting electric locomotive that is constructed from domestic components. Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate a factory that is attempting to balance the demand for established freight locomotives with the development of novel passenger and heavy-haul platforms.
The modernization of painting facilities and mechanical tools is of strategic importance. Without efficient production lines, reliable manufacturing processes, and testing capacity, new locomotive designs are unable to be translated into sustained deliveries.
During the initial eight months of 2026, NEVZ invested over 2.3 billion rubles in order to fortify its industrial base in preparation for its subsequent phase of growth.
Presently, the obstacle is to convert these investments and prototype programs into reliable serial production. For Russia, the result will have an impact on the destiny of one of its most significant railroad manufacturing centers, the movement of heavier freight trains, and the renewal of its passenger locomotive fleet.