Indian Railways Issues $3.2 Bn LoA to Siemens for 9000 HP Electric Freight Locomotives Manufacturing

The Indian Railways has issued the Letter of Award (LoA) to Siemens India for the manufacturing and maintenance of 9000 HP electric freight locomotives worth about Rs 26,000 crore, about USD 3.2 billion, excluding taxes and price variation.
 
Over a period of 11 years, these 1200 high horsepower electric locomotives would be manufactured at a Railway’s factory in Dahod.
 
Under the contract, the company would manufacture 1200 locomotives and provide maintenance of these locomotives for 35 years, whereas the proto-type locomotives is expected to be delivered in the next two years.
 
However, the agreement between both parties would be signed within 30 days of the issue of the LoA. 
 
Siemens will manufacture these locomotives at Dahod unit, which will be fully constructed for manufacturing within 2 years, and maintain these locomotives at 4 maintenance depots - Vishakhapatnam, Raipur, Kharagpur, Pune for a period of 35 years utilising Railway’s Manpower.
 
Suitable economic drivers will ensure complete indigenization of the manufacturing which in turn will lead to the development of ancillary manufacturing units making it a true ‘Make in India’ initiative. The project will also lead to the development of the Dahod region and generate employment.
 
These High Horse Power (9000 HP) locomotives are planned for use primarily on Western DFC and on graded sections of Railways for hauling container freight trains in double stack configuration of 4500 Tonnes at 75 kmph at 1 in 200 gradients and improve the average speed of such trains to around 50-60 kmph over the existing 20-25 kmph.
 
The quantum jump in the operating parameters will lead to an increase in the throughput and also enhance line capacity.
 
These locomotives, equipped with state-of-the-art IGBT-based propulsion technology, will provide savings in energy consumption due to regenerative braking technology. Also, there is a provision to manufacture and supply Standard Gauge locomotives for the export market.