India’s most powerful rail engine to revolutionize freight transport

March 5, 2025 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani

India’s most powerful railway engine set to revolutionize freight transport

India is making significant strides in railway modernization, with the completion of its most powerful locomotive, which will begin operations next month.

This advanced engine was developed under the Make in India initiative. It was recently inspected by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the Dahod factory in Gujarat.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this facility in 2022.

The factory specializes in producing high-performance locomotives, and it has now completed its first 9000-horsepower (HP) engine.

The new locomotive marks a transformative step for Indian Railways’ freight operations.

With a 9000 HP capacity, this engine offers a major upgrade from the current 6000 HP models.

The enhanced power enables the locomotive to efficiently haul up to 4500 tons of cargo, providing a significant boost to freight capacity. Furthermore, the engine’s increased power will allow freight trains to operate at speeds of 50-60 km/h, compared to the current speeds of 20-25 km/h.

This increase in speed and capacity will dramatically improve the efficiency of freight transportation, reducing travel times and delays.

The project has seen a major investment of ₹20,000 crore and will involve the production of 1200 electric engines by Siemens Engineering Company in Dahod.

This is part of India’s broader railway electrification plan, which aims to enhance efficiency, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and modernize the railway network.

These new locomotives will primarily be deployed on key freight corridors. These include the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and other freight-heavy routes across the country.

In addition to improving domestic freight operations, these powerful engines will also have the potential to tap into export markets, showcasing India’s growing capabilities in railway technology.

This development is a significant leap in modernizing India’s railway infrastructure, strengthening its logistics capabilities, and boosting trade by reducing delays and improving efficiency across the transport network.

Image Credit: Adityamadhav83, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons