In India, railways serve as the backbone of the country’s economic activities, playing a crucial role in both passenger transport and the movement of goods. Whether it’s traveling from one end of the nation to the other or transporting cargo across vast distances, the Indian Railways is indispensable. The ongoing efforts to modernize and improve the railway system are vital to keep pace with the growing demands of transportation. A major milestone in this journey is the arrival of the country’s most powerful rail engine, which is expected to begin operations on tracks within the next month.
A Giant Leap in Railway Power
This impressive engine has been developed at the Dahod factory in Gujarat, where significant advancements in freight train engines are being made. On Saturday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav visited the factory to witness the progress. The first engine from this facility is now ready, and its development is a testament to the success of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The factory was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, and in just three years, it has successfully produced the nation’s most powerful rail engine.
Capacity and Performance Like Never Before
Boasting a remarkable 9,000 horsepower, this new engine is designed to pull freight trains carrying up to 4,500 tonnes of cargo at high speeds. To put this into perspective, a typical truck carries between 7 to 10 tonnes of goods, meaning this engine can transport the equivalent of nearly 500 truckloads in a single train. The engine’s powerful performance is a game-changer for freight transportation, allowing for the swift movement of large quantities of goods across the country.
Vision of Modernizing Indian Railways
The Prime Minister laid the foundation for the high-speed locomotive factory in 2022 as part of an ambitious plan to upgrade the Indian Railways. This includes increasing the power of electric engines from 6,000 to 9,000 horsepower, as part of a broader rail electrification initiative. Siemens, an engineering giant, will be responsible for manufacturing a total of 1,200 electric engines of 9,000 HP, with a total investment exceeding Rs 20,000 crore. These engines are expected to revolutionize freight transport, increasing train speeds from 20-25 kmph to 50-60 kmph.
These powerful engines will primarily be deployed on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and other key sections of the railway network. Additionally, there are plans to use these high-performance engines for exports, further strengthening India’s role in the global transport industry.
