Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially commissioned the first D9–9000 horsepower (HP) electric locomotive at the Indian Railways manufacturing facility in Dahod, Gujarat. This event marks the beginning of a large-scale initiative involving the production of 1,200 high-power electric locomotives under a contract awarded to Siemens.
Component manufacturing for the locomotives is being carried out at Siemens’ facilities in Nashik, Aurangabad, and Mumbai. Final assembly, testing, and commissioning take place at the Dahod factory, which was developed in under two years. The facility features modern technologies including a Virtual Reality-based safety training system, a locomotive simulator, and shunting equipment for improved operational efficiency.
Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Limited, stated that approximately 90% of the technologies integrated into these locomotives are sourced domestically. He emphasized the project’s strategic importance in contributing to the national objective of increasing rail freight’s share from 27% to approximately 45%. Each locomotive in the D9–9000 HP series is designed for a top speed of 120 km/h and a haulage capacity of 5,800 tons, supporting efficient freight movement across the national rail network.
Siemens is also responsible for the maintenance of these locomotives over a 35-year lifecycle. The locomotives are equipped with Siemens’ Railigent X platform, which supports predictive maintenance for optimized performance and availability. Additional features include advanced digital tracking, the Kavach safety system, and green propulsion technologies, all of which contribute to enhanced safety, efficiency, and sustainability in rail transport.
Siemens Limited is engaged in the fields of industry, infrastructure, and mobility. The company integrates digital and physical technologies to support efficiency and sustainability goals across sectors. In fiscal year 2024, ending September 30, Siemens Limited reported consolidated revenues of approximately ₹16,000 crore and employed more than 6,200 individuals.
