Indian Railways marked a significant milestone in India’s rail freight modernization journey with the commencement of commercial operations of 9000 horsepower (HP) electric freight locomotives.
Designed for heavy-haul freight operations, the D9 electric locomotives of 9000 HP represent one of the most powerful freight locomotives deployed in the world with speeds of up to 120 km/h. The commencement of commercial operations follows a record execution timeline, with the locomotives entering commercial operations within 36 months from the contract date, one of the fastest deliveries for a project of this scale in the Indian rail sector.
The project is being executed under a long-term availability-based lifecycle partnership model, covering the design, manufacturing, commissioning, and 35 years of full-service maintenance. Locomotives are being manufactured at the Indian Railways’ factory in Dahod, Gujarat, while maintenance will be undertaken at depots in Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Kharagpur, and Pune, supporting sustained performance and high fleet availability.
Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Limited, said, “This is a proud moment for Siemens as a long-standing and trusted partner of Indian Railways. The successful handover of the electric locomotives sets a new benchmark in rail modernization, enabled by a pioneering partnership and a robust lifecycle business model. It reflects the strength of collaboration between Indian Railways and Siemens and stands as a testament to the manufacturing and engineering excellence of the people who made this achievement possible, embodying the spirit of ‘Viksit Bharat’.”
Approximately 90% of the locomotive technologies are made in India, reinforcing Indian Railways’ and Siemens’ shared commitment to ‘Make in India’ and the development of a strong domestic rail manufacturing ecosystem. The project has also contributed to capability building across Indian suppliers, manufacturing facilities, and skilled talent.
The 9,000 HP electric locomotives are equipped with advanced digital systems, including Railigent X, Siemens’ intelligent rail asset management platform, enabling predictive maintenance and data-driven performance optimization. The locomotives integrate advanced safety and monitoring technologies and are engineered for energy-efficient, high-reliability freight operations across the Indian Railways network. Over their lifecycle, the locomotives are expected to contribute significantly to sustainability outcomes supporting India’s broader climate and logistics efficiency goals.