India: Alstom Signs on Major Railway Works
Image courtesy of Alstom
Alstom has contracted with Indian Railways on two deals worth a total of more than 3.7 billion.
The first contract is for the delivery of 800 electric locomotives and associated maintenance services, which was signed with Indian Railways. The second was signed with DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd.) and pertains to the electrification, signalling and telecommunications systems for a portion of the eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).
Dominique Pouliquen said:
“We are pleased to sign today these contracts which will play a crucial role in boosting Indias economy and infrastructure development while supporting the strong growth of Indian Railways. At Alstom, 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.“
Delivery of Alstom Prima Trains
The first contract will deliver 800 electric locomotives and maintenance services to Indian Railways. The locomotives are part of Alstoms Prima range. They are 9,000 kW at the wheel rim and will travel at speeds of up to 120km/h.
Alstom will invest approximately 200 million into the project, which will be governed by a recently established JV, in which Alstom hold a 74% stake, and Indian Railways a 26% stake.
The project will include the establishment of a facility at Madhepura (Bihar state), where most of the trains will be made. The trains will be delivered between 2018 and 2028. Two maintenance depots will be set up at Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh state) and Nagpur (Maharashtra state).
The second contract, worth over 200 million, will deliver the electrification, signallingand telecommunications system for a 343km long portion of the Dedicated Freight Corridor. This is a significant government-led programme to construct an eastern and western freight corridor across India. It is hoped to be finished by 2019. As part of this contract, Alstom will also construct the stations and control centre.
The projects will enable faster, safer and weightier freight trains to travel across the country, thus easing congestion for passenger and freight trains. They will be controlled by Alstom in India, with reference to Alstom in France.
Alstom in India
Alstom currently has sites in Indiathat include a signalling, telecoms and train engineering unit in Bangalore, a metro manufacturing plant in Sri City and a traction systems manufacturing unit in Coimbatore. Alstom has significant experience in India, in cities including Delhi, Bangalore, Jaipur, Chennai, Kochi and Lucknow.