UWC freight railcar. Credit: UWC RPC PJSC.

Russian firm United Wagon Company (UWC) has shipped the first batch of vehicles under a contract to supply freight cars to the Republic of Guinea.

UWC won the deal via an international tender process that was organised by aluminium producer UC RUSAL.

The first batch included a total of 114 hopper cars, which will be used to transport bauxites from the Dian-Dian deposit in the Boké Region.

The cars were designed by UWC’s unit All-Union Research and Development Centre for Transportation Technology in compliance with the US AAR railroad standards.

“I am positive that our manufacturing competences and world-class technologies will help UWC to further build up its presence in the global car-building market.”

UWC manufactured the vehicles at its TikhvinSpetsMash plant.

Commenting on the tender process, UWC Business Development deputy CEO Maxim Kuzemchenko said: “Manufacturers from Russia, North America, China, South Africa and Ukraine were competing for Guinea supplies.

“Despite the harsh competition, we came up with the best bid and won the tender.

“I am positive that our manufacturing competences and world-class technologies will help UWC to further build up its presence in the global car-building market.”

The 1,435mm-gauge hopper cars have an individual carrying capacity of 101.5t with a 32.5 truck factor (tf) axle load.

The vehicles are fitted with a unique quick drop system, which enables the unloading of cargo onto the track via two hatches on each side of the wagon with the total length of 5.5m.

UC RUSAL Alumina Division director Yakov Itskov said: “Forming a car fleet will provide for stable bauxite transportation from the mine to the shipping port.

“Collaboration with a Russian company within the framework of our international project is a vivid example of demand for Russian competences and their competitive strength, both in the mining industry and in mechanical engineering.”