Indian Railways to get new powerful freight locomotive capable of operating at 120kmph

According to the railways, increasing the speed of freight trains is a vital concern for which high horsepower and high-speed locomotives are required to be inducted.

The electric locomotive manufacturing unit at Dahod in Gujarat will start producing a sufficient number of high-speed freight train engines in another three years so that India can export them, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday.

Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected the Dahod factory, including the simulator at the Dahod workshop, and inspected the newly developed prototype of the 9000 HP WAG locomotive. The Railway Minister also inspected all aspects of this locomotive, which is one of the most powerful locomotives (9000 HP) being manufactured in the Dahod workshop. While addressing the media representatives, he mentioned that the prototype locomotive is ready and the trials are underway.

"The industrial hub set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dahod will be
remembered for life by everyone. It was an amazing experience to look at the technology used
in the locomotive manufactured in the facility. This locomotive is 89 per cent 'Made in India'. This is great news, and I challenge the team to make it 100 per cent made in India as soon as possible. We dream of locomotives manufactured in Dahod to be famous the world over," Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

The locomotive is 'Made in India' and equipped with advanced features, including Kavach technology. The minister said the locos would soon start being exported, making Dahod a global name.

According to the railways, increasing the speed of freight trains is a vital concern for which high horsepower and high-speed locomotives are required to be inducted.

"Hence, the Ministry of Railways had decided to manufacture 9000 HP high-speed freight locomotives, at Rolling Stock Workshop, Dahod, in Gujarat," a press note from the Western Railway said. It added, "Dahod Workshop of Western Railway in Gujarat upgraded to manufacture high horsepower (9000 HP) electric locomotives by selecting technological partner SIEMENS under 'Make in India' and 'Make for World' initiatives of the Government of India through a transparent bidding process." Vaishnaw said these locomotives will play a vital role in revolutionising the freight movement in the country.

He added that these high horsepower locomotives will help decongest the saturated tracks by improving the average speed and loading capacity of freight trains, These engines, Railway officials said, will be capable to haul a load of 4500 tonne cargo load at maximum speed of 120 kmph and will be a game changer for movement of cargo trains.

These high horse power (9000 HP) locomotives will be the future workhorse for freight operation on Indian Railways. These 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 gradient 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.

There is a provision to manufacture and supply Standard Gauge locomotives for export market.

*With Agency Inputs