French engineer Alstom and the US’ GE Transportation have signed a deal with the Indian rail operator to supply 1,800 locomotives over the next 13 years.
Alstom’s $3bn contract will involve assembling 800 of its Prima electric locomotives, which travel at a speed of up to 120 km/h. The rolling stock will be accompanied by long-term maintenance deals.
This project will be executed by a recently formed joint venture in which Alstom and Indian Railways respectively hold a 74% and 26% stake. Its scope includes the construction of a manufacturing plant in Bihar and the setting-up of two maintenance depots in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The delivery of the locomotives will take place between 2018 and 2028.
Alstom will also provide the electrification, signaling and telecoms systems for the 343km eastern portion of the Dedicated Freight Corridor, a government-led project to build a transnational east-west freight route by 2019.
As part of the contract, Alstom will also build the stations and provide the control centre.
Dominique Poulique, Alstom’s senior vice-president for Asia Pacific, said: "We are committed to addressing the ever-growing market in India by expanding our local footprint and bringing technological expertise and know-how to the country."
Meanwhile, GE has been awarded a $2.6bn commission to provide Indian Railways with 1,000 diesel locomotives over the next 11 years; it will also invest $200m in an assembly plant and maintenance sheds.
GE will build a diesel locomotive factory in Marhowra, in the state of Bihar, in addition to maintenance sheds at Bhatinda in the Punjab and Gandhidham in Gujarat.
To build and operate the diesel factory, a joint venture will be established between the Indian Ministry of Railways and GE Global Sourcing India.
Image via Alstom
