At the 16th International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE) held from October 15–17, 2025, ZF introduced a newly developed rail gearbox built to meet the operational demands of Indian railways. The single-stage spur gear drive, engineered for durability and efficiency, is tailored to withstand India’s diverse and often challenging railway environments.
The new gearbox is part of ZF’s broader strategy to support infrastructure and transport systems with solutions adapted to local conditions. The product, along with other offerings from the company’s rail portfolio, were showcased at Booth 5.114 in Hall 5 during the exhibition.
India’s railway network is one of the largest in the world, spanning terrain that includes extreme temperatures, high humidity, dust, snow, and steep gradients. The constant demand on rail components in such settings calls for robust, dependable equipment.
Markus Gross, Head of Product Line Rail Drive Systems at ZF, explained “These operating conditions place heavy demands on rail systems. With this new gearbox, we’re offering a solution that balances efficiency with long-term reliability. It’s a system that Indian trains can count on.”
Akash Passey, President of ZF India, added “Our extensive experience in rail technology enables us to support India’s fast-developing railway sector. With millions relying on rail travel daily, there is a need for equipment that is not only safe and dependable but also built with Indian conditions in mind. This new gearbox is one such step in that direction.”
The newly introduced gearbox uses components that have already demonstrated their durability across millions of kilometers of global rail service. Its design has been adapted to suit Indian applications, including high-speed trains such as the Vande Bharat Express.
A key feature of this new system is its specially designed sphero cast housing, created to withstand both the environmental extremes and mechanical vibrations common on Indian rail routes. Despite its durability, the unit remains compact, weighing approximately 315 kilograms with the torque arm included.
The gearbox is rated for an axle load of up to 17 tons, with a nominal power output of 300 kW and torque of 2,600 Nm. It supports maximum speeds of up to 180 km/h. The gearing is optimized for efficiency, drawing on ZF’s global experience with more than 30,000 high-speed and semi-high-speed gearbox units in service worldwide. These features also contribute to lower overall maintenance and operational costs over the product’s lifecycle.
Although the technology behind the gearbox originates from ZF’s global development network, assembly takes place at the company’s new facility in Coimbatore. The plant has been expanded to include rail-specific production capabilities, in line with ZF’s commitment to serving regional markets with localized solutions.
“Our local production strategy ensures fast response times, reliable service, and supply chain stability,” said Mr Passey. “It also helps us deliver products that are aligned with local customer requirements, without compromising on quality.”
Markus Gross emphasized the global significance of this development “This launch is a clear reflection of ZF’s broader commitments—not only to India but also to our global partners. It demonstrates our technical expertise, manufacturing capability, and long-term investment in railway mobility.”
The company has already received its initial orders for the new gearbox, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2026. ZF also plans to invest further in expanding assembly capacity to support anticipated demand.
