Siemens Mobility has handed over the first of 1,200 electric freight locomotives on order from Indian Railways. The locomotives are part of a 3 billion euro project — the biggest order ever for Siemens Mobility. India also opened the first maintenance depot for the fleet.
The order was placed in January 2023. Some three years later, the first D9 locomotive was delivered to India. “The handover of the first D9 locomotives and the opening of the new maintenance depot in Visakhapatnam are major milestones in this landmark project and our long-term partnership with Indian Railways,” said Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility.
“With our leading technology, we are supporting the country’s goal of shifting more freight to rail, boosting logistics efficiency, and significantly reducing CO₂ emissions for decades to come. Together, we are bringing one of the world’s most powerful and energy-efficient freight locomotives into service – manufactured and maintained in India.”
Specifications
The D9 locomotives are Indian Railways’ most powerful six-axle electric freight locomotives, boasting 9,000 hp. Designed for freight operations across the network at speeds up to 120 kilometres per hour, these units are the first Indian Railways rolling stock successfully tested to the European standard EN 14363.
With an axle load of 22.5 tonnes, they are capable of hauling loads up to 5,800 tonnes on defined gradients during normal operation, says Siemens. They are equipped with advanced digital systems for predictive maintenance and data-driven performance optimisation. This is supposed to ensure enhanced safety, energy efficiency, and high-reliability operations.