Indian Railways awarded contract to Siemens to build 1,200 locomotives

Indian Railways (IR) has placed a Rs 131.8 billion ($1.7 billion) order with Siemens for 1,200 6.6 MW electric locomotives to be built between 2023 and 2034. It is reported by Railway Supply magazine with reference to IRJ.

According to the production plan, Siemens will deliver five locomotives in 2024, followed by 35 in 2025 and 80 in 2026 and 2027. In the fifth and sixth years, 100 locomotives will be delivered, and then 160 units annually over the next five years until 2034.

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The Co-Co locomotives will be manufactured at a state-owned facility at Dahod in Gujarat, which has recently been upgraded. The facility was built in 1924 for the overhaul of steam locomotives, and was later used for the overhaul of rolling stock for the Western Railway zone. IR says that power for the upgraded plant will come from renewable sources, and locomotives built there will be eligible for cleaner production certification.

The contract follows IR’s initiative to increase the capacity of its electric locomotives from 4.4 MW to 6.6 MW to improve the hauling capacity of freight trains weighing up to 4,500 tons at an average speed of 75 km/h. The new locomotives will have a top speed of 120 km/h and will also be equipped with India’s Kavach train collision avoidance system.

IR announced tenders for the locomotive contract in April, and technical tenders were opened in September. Siemens quoted a price of Rs 131.8 billion based on Rs 109 million per locomotive, while Alstom offered Rs 233.6 billion or Rs 194.6 million per unit.

State-owned locomotive manufacturer Chittaranjan Locomotive Works has awarded Siemens a contract to supply integrated power units and transformers for 6.6 MW electric locomotives in 2019 to reduce energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions.

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