The captive three-phase electric locomotive manufacturing unit of Indian Railways, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW ) has become the biggest locomotive producer in the world. In 2018-2019 fiscal, CLW has produced a whopping 402 numbers of electric locomotives.
In fiscal 2017-18, CLW rolled out 350 electric locomotives. This increase of 15 per cent in production has been achieved coupled with 7.5 per cent reduction in cost of locomotives, said official sources. Manufacturing cost of an indigenously made WAG9 type locomotive is just above Rs 10 crores.
Under ‘Make in India’ initiative, CLW has successfully produced IR’s first 9000 HP locomotive and turned out on 31 March this year. With this, IR joins the elite club of a manufacturer capable of producing 9000 HP locomotives. The first WAG-9HH locomotive (loco no. 90001) was flagged off by Mr Ghanshyam Singh, Member Traction of Railway Board and Mr Praveen Mishra, general manager of CLW on Monday.
“The locomotive will facilitate in improving through put by delivering better acceleration reserve at higher balancing speed. This is a great initiative in the direction of right powering of freight trains over IR. Prior to this, WAG9 HC bearing no 32359, last loco from CLW Dankuni was also flagged off through remote,” said Mr Praveen Mishra.
The Dankuni ancillary and assembly unit of CLW has produced 50 locomotives the last fiscal year from 25 electric locomotives the previous fiscal.
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) turned out new version of WAP-7 locomotive (WAP-7HS) having potential of maximum service speed as 160 kmph. The locomotive shall be put into service after statutory tests and trials. The new type of locomotive is expected to facilitate operation of premium trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duranto at higher speed.
It is to be noted that WAP7 is the most powerful passenger locomotive over Indian Railways which is capable of hauling 24 coach high speed trains. However, the maximum service speed of locomotive is 140 kmph. To operate the trains at a faster speed and reduce the journey time, enhancing the maximum service speed of locomotive is necessary.
In addition to it, CLW has successfully completed various developmental projects in the financial year 2018-19. These are – HOG enabled (with composite converter) High Speed WAP-5 locomotive, Aerodynamically designed high speed locomotive having speed potential of 200 kmph, high speed (160 kmph) version of WAP7 locomotive and Testing and proliferation of Push-Pull Technology, according to company sources. Freight corridor and railway electrification have generated huge growth opportunities for CLW already.