Alstom completes 12,000 hp electric locomotive at Madhepura

French rail transport giant Alstom today said it had completed its first all-electric locomotive with 12,000 hp capacity from its state-of-the-art locomotive facility at Madhepura in Bihar, on schedule.

It said in a statement, "In line with the Government's and Indian Railways' target towards 100-per cent electrification and towards sustainable mobility, these new locomotives will not only bring down operating costs for the Railways but will significantly cut down greenhouse gas emissions as well."

This first locomotive is part of a €3.5-billion order comprising 800 electric double-section locomotives signed in 2015, which contributes to the ministry of railways' public-private partnership programme to modernise the country's rail infrastructure.

This agreement remains the largest foreign direct investment in the railways sector to date and has a strategic role in creating a multiplier effect on the economy. This contract is also one of the biggest contracts in the history of Alstom.

''Our operations in India are paramount to our business globally and we continue to stay committed to developing India's infrastructure needs, improving the quality of services to citizens and investing in the nation's economy,'' said Henri-Poupart Lafarge, chairman and CEO, Alstom.

Further commenting on the completion of the first electric locomotive, he added, ''This project stands as a shining example of Alstom's commitment to 'Make in India'. Apart from creating thousands of jobs directly and indirectly, we have created a strong localised supply chain for this project, with 90 per cent of the components for the prototype sourced locally.''

Thanks to its 12,000 horsepower, each double section locomotive, part of Alstom's Prima locomotives family, has a hauling capacity of 6,000 tonnes and speed of 120km/hr, allowing faster and safer movement of heavier freight trains across the country, thereby reducing congestion for passenger train services and freight.

Equipped with IGBT based propulsion technology, these locomotives will be compliant with Indian standards of freight transport and will have the ability to endure tough Indian climate and conditions.

"The locomotives were developed with the support of 6 Alstom sites in France - Belfort for the 6 first car bodyshells, and Ornans for the motors, Tarbes for the traction, Le Creusot for bogies, Villeurbanne for the train control monitoring systems and Saint-Ouen for the design," the statement added.

Alstom also said it had been awarded three new contracts worth approximately €75 million - power supply contract from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), contract for new train sets from Chennai Metro Rail Corporation and another power supply contract from Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation.