These 12,000-horsepower (HP) electric locomotives are to be supplied over the next 10 years and will be manufactured at Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi.
The notice inviting bids states that these locomotives will be maintained at Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Sabarmati (Gujarat) and Tughlakabad (Delhi).
These train locomotives are to be used on entire Indian Railways and Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) routes. Each engine should be capable of hauling 6,000 tonnes at an average speed of 75 kmph.
The idea of such trains for freight traffic was mooted in 2007-08. Generally, freight trains were given less power and this slowed down their movement.
Former Railway Board member (traffic) VN Mathur said the new locomotives would be more capable of handling heavy loads at DFC.
A similar tender for 12,000-hp electric locomotives was awarded to Alstom as part of a contract worth 3.5 billion euros (approximately ₹28,195 crore) in 2015. The contract was to supply 800 locomotives for the freight service, capable of hauling 6,000 tons on top. Speed of 120 kmph. This has been the biggest ever foreign direct investment project in the Indian Railways sector.
“This was the first successful public-private partnership of the Indian Railways. Alstom had bid for the supply of about Rs 38 crore per locomotive (plus cost escalation). The international market price at that time was around Rs 60 crore per locomotive.” The retired railway official told ET.
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