Indian Railways and Wabtec partner to boost global locomotive exports

26 Sep 2024 CW Team

Indian Railways has partnered with Wabtec Locomotive Private Limited to expand the export of locomotives to Africa and other global markets, as part of efforts to strengthen India’s role as a manufacturing hub. According to an official release, Wabtec will offer its Evolution Series ES43ACmi locomotives, which feature a 4,500 HP Evolution Series engine known for best-in-class fuel efficiency and proven performance in high-temperature environments, to customers worldwide.

For the first time, the Marhowra plant in Bihar will produce locomotives specifically for international clients, with deliveries set to begin in 2025. The project is strategically significant as it aligns with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’ initiatives under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It also establishes the Marhowra plant as a global exporter of standard-gauge locomotives, expanding the local supplier network, fostering long-term job creation, and boosting the Indian economy.

The partnership has established the Marhowra facility as a key global manufacturing center, utilising a strong local supplier base across India. Indian Railways currently operates a fleet of around 650 newly constructed locomotives from this collaboration. Moving forward, Wabtec and the Ministry of Railways plan to further enhance the plant’s capacity and competitiveness to support sustainable export manufacturing.

The Marhowra facility, which spans 70 acres, was established in 2018 with a mandate to produce 1,000 advanced locomotives for Indian Railways. Employing around 600 people, the plant currently supplies an average of 100 locomotives annually to Indian Railways and has played a significant role in the region’s industrial growth.

(ET)

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..