Now Reading: Alstom eyes new Indian Railways order for 200 locomotives
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Alstom eyes new Indian Railways order for 200 locomotives
French train maker Alstom is in talks with Indian Railways for an order to build 200 more electric freight locomotives at its Madhepura plant in Bihar. The existing contract for 800 engines…
French train maker Alstom is in talks with Indian Railways for an order to build 200 more electric freight locomotives at its Madhepura plant in Bihar. The existing contract for 800 engines is expected to be completed by March 2028, said Vivek Garg, managing director of Madhepura Electric Locomotive Pvt Ltd (MELPL).
MELPL is a joint venture between Alstom and Indian Railways, set up in 2015. The company manufactures and maintains 12,000 horsepower electric freight locomotives. About 90% of the engine parts are sourced locally, though wheels and axles are still imported. MELPL is in talks with Ramkrishna Forgings for local wheel supply, but progress depends on the new order.
Garg added that the existing contract allows for design changes if the railways requests them. The Madhepura plant could also work on hydrogen and battery train technology in the future.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The 800-locomotive contract, India's largest such order when signed in 2015, was a flagship example of the 'Make in India' push in heavy rail. Alstom's Madhepura facility was built with an initial investment of about Rs 2,000 crore and was designed to achieve 90% localisation. The new order for 200 units, if finalised, would extend the plant's life beyond 2028 and provide the volume needed to justify a domestic wheel forging line. Indian Railways has committed to full electrification of its broad-gauge network, which increases the long-term demand for electric freight locomotives. The next signal to watch is a formal letter of award from the Railway Board, expected within the current financial year.
Source: bazaar.businesstoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
