Dahod: The first loco set from Indian Railways Dahod based railway engine manufacturing plant will be rolled out this year by March after testing. Union Minister of State for Railway Ranveet Singh Bittu who visited Gujarat’s Dahod based Rolling Stock factory shared this information.

Sharing the details after his visit to the plant, Bittu stated – ‘Today it was my immense pleasure to visit rolling stock factory at Dahod which is the project of our Prime minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. Phase 1 was commissioned on 12.03.2024 while on 30.12.2024 :-Completion of Assembly of Prototype Loco Was done. The Technological Partner for Locomotive production Manufacturing cum Maintenance contract is awarded to M/S SIEMENS. Total 1200 Locomotives are to be supplied over a period of 11 years. Base price per Locomotive is 10.98 crore.’

‘The first loco set to be rolled out this year by March after testing. This prototype loco would be the first of its kind in 9000 HP with 6 axle co-co locomotives to be utilised by indian railways route for hauling 4500T load with average speed of 75kmph by single loco. The loco is equipped with hi tech safety features, cameras, AC cabin, inbuilt wash room and many more.’

PM had laid the foundation stone for this factory in 2022 during a function in Dahod. The project, valued at ₹663.30 crore, aims to manufacture 1,200 high-power 9,000 HP electric locomotives over 11 years, with an estimated worth of ₹20,000 crore.

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 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. DeshGujarat