- Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first all-electric high-speed locomotive in Bihar. The first big Make-in-India project completed by France’s Alstom, the train has the country’s most powerful engine with 12,000 horsepower and a maximum speed of 120 km per hour.
- The average cost of one high-speed locomotive is around Rs25 crore. Before the launch of high speed locomotive train, the most powerful electric engine in India was of 6,000 HP.
- PM Modi was in Bihar to attend the centenary celebrations of the Champaran Satyagraha as a part of “Chalo Champaran Campaign“. The theme of the centenary celebrations of the Champaran Satyagraha is “Satyagraha se Swachhagrah“.
Major Features of the Locomotive
- Developed at Madhepura’s Electric Locomotive Factory in Bihar, the all-electric high-speed train is the first big Make-in-India project completed by Alstom of France.
- Each double section locomotive will have a hauling capacity of 6,000 tonnes. With a speed of 120 km/hr, the high-speed all-electric locomotive will reduce the congestion faced by Indian railways. The heavy haulage locomotives will be used transport coal and iron ore confirmed a senior railway ministry official.
- With 100% electrification, the new locomotive will not only bring down operating costs for the Railways but will significantly cut down greenhouse gas emissions as well
- With the launch of this locomotive, India will be competing with Russia, China, Germany and Sweden that have successfully run 12,000 horsepower and above capacity electric Locomotives.
- Equipped with IGBT based propulsion technology, the locomotive will have the ability to endure the tough Indian climate.
- Under Make in India, Alstom is expected to deliver a total of 800 high horsepower locomotives over a period of 11 years. The entire project will cost Rs 200 million. The first five locomotives will be imported while the remaining 795 will be manufactured in the country under the Make in India programme, according to the agreement.
Source: Business Standard