Alstom has reached a significant milestone with the delivery of its 500th electric locomotive to Indian Railways, the company announced on Tuesday.
This achievement highlights the company’s commitment to modernizing India’s railway infrastructure and underlines a key step in both Alstom’s and Indian Railways’ efforts to modernize the country’s freight transportation capabilities.
Alstom fully manufactures all 500 locomotives in India, marking a major advancement in domestic production and technology.
The company delivered the 500th locomotive, a fully India-made Prima T8 WAG12B e-locomotive, from its cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Madhepura, Bihar.
This milestone is part of a €3.5 billion contract under which Alstom is supplying 800 high-powered double-section Prima T8 locomotives for freight services.
Key Figures And Capabilities
Each locomotive boasts a 12,000 HP (9 MW) capacity, designed to haul heavy freight rakes weighing approximately 6,000 tonnes at speeds of up to 120 km/h.
Indian Railways identifies these locomotives as WAG-12B, specifically designed to enhance freight transport efficiency.
Olivier Loison, Managing Director of Alstom India, further emphasized the significance of the delivery, stating, “Our WAG-12B electric locomotives, powered by cutting-edge technology, are fully manufactured in India and provide enhanced speed, efficiency, and reliability of freight haulage across the country. The delivery of our 500th e-loco underscores our commitment to modernizing India’s railway infrastructure, especially for freight, thereby driving economic growth.”
State-Of-The-Art Manufacturing Facility
Alstom builds the locomotives at its Madhepura facility, one of India’s largest integrated greenfield manufacturing sites.
The facility, established as part of a joint venture between Alstom and Indian Railways, plays a crucial role in India’s rail modernization efforts.
With an annual production capacity of 120 locomotives, the Madhepura facility has achieved nearly 90% localization, sourcing over 85% of its components locally.
India’s Growth In Locomotive Manufacturing
The project further represents the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India’s railway sector.
Alstom’s collaboration with Indian Railways has helped position India among a select few nations capable of producing high-horsepower locomotives domestically.
Sustainability And Economic Impact
The locomotives use cutting-edge propulsion technology, offering significant energy savings through regenerative braking.
These improvements not only enhance operational efficiency but also reduce environmental impact by minimizing heat generation and traction noise.
The introduction of these advanced electric locomotives has helped reduce congestion on the rail network, promoting the efficient transport of essential commodities such as coal, cement, food grains, fertilizers, petrochemicals, minerals, and parcels across the country.
This shift to more efficient freight transport supports India’s economic development, Alstom stated.
A Bright Future For India’s Railways
Alstom’s achievement reflects a significant leap in India’s railway modernization, offering a glimpse of the country’s growing capabilities in manufacturing high-tech, high-powered locomotives.
With continued collaboration between Alstom and Indian Railways, India’s railway infrastructure is set to modernize further, supporting economic growth and sustainability in the years to come.
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