GEORGIA: The city of Tbilisi has cancelled an order for TMH’s Metrowagonmash subsidiary to supply 11 four-car metro trains. The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development is unable to finance the previously announced order because of international sanctions imposed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Mayor Kakha Kaladze said negotiations were underway with EBRD for the purchase of trains from alternative suppliers.
In 2020 EBRD agreed to provide Georgia with a €75m sovereign loan to finance tunnel and depot modernisation, new trains to encourage model shift from cars and training to promote the employment of women.
The rolling stock order announced in 2021 was valued at €49·2m with deliveries to be completed in early 2025, but EBRD suspended the associated payments in March this year.
The Tbilisi metro currently uses trainsets supplied by Metrowagonmash in 1977-91, with mid-life overhauls and upgrades undertaken locally by Tbilisi ZREPS.
