B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
[We were] almost hit by a B777 aircraft being pulled by a tug while taxiing in Atlanta after landing. We turned off from Runway 8L on B11 taxiway. The Tower told us to turn right from B to V and taxi into T concourse. I was the PM and read back the clearance. I heard the Tower tell the tug towing the aircraft to hold short [of] our taxiway (after crossing the parallel runway we just landed on) to allow us to pass on the taxiway. He read the clearance back to acknowledge. He was crossing the runway and I was watching him with good situational awareness to make sure he would stop. As he crossed the runway he sped up instead of slowing down to hold short of our taxiway where we were converging. The Controller shouted on the radios; 'tug stop; stop; stop.' At the same time I pointed and told the CA 'he is not stopping' and the CA turned and saw him and turned our aircraft right to swerve and avoid him.  The tug was able to stop at the last minute and he did not hit us or damage the aircraft. The tug did not have bright lights so it was very hard to see him. We had all of our taxi lights on; so he should have seen us. We continued to the gate normally and no other incidents.Tug driver failed to stop after and hold short of the taxiway after he read it back on the radio. Better communication between everyone. Better lighting on tugs and aircraft being towed.
B737 First Officer reported a near collision occurred on a taxiway in ATL when a B777 being towed failed to hold short as cleared and entered their taxiway.