Indian Railways will keep 2,500 diesel engines for emergencies and strategic use while aiming for full track electrification. The plan includes 1,000 Wabtec engines and 1,500 high horsepower locomotives. Nearly 97% of the railway network is already electrified. Additional production and exports are expected. A budget of ₹14,155.90 crore was allocated to run diesel trains in 2023-24.
New Delhi: Indian Railways plans to retain 2,500 diesel-powered locomotives for disaster management and strategic purposes as it moves towards 100% track electrification next year and introduction of alternative fuel engines . A senior official told ET that as part of the national transporter's strategy for green transition , "in the long term, after the completion of electrification, a total fleet of 2,500 diesel locos will be maintained for disaster management and strategic purposes". Under this plan, 1,000 locomotives manufactured at Wabtec's Marhowra Plant (Bihar) and 1,500 high horsepower (HHP) engines will be operational.
At the end of September 2024, 650 Wabtec engines had been manufactured and added to the railways' fleet.
Their production started in 2018.
The HHP locomotives were introduced on the railways' network in 1999-2000.
"The newer diesel locomotives are more fuel efficient, low-maintenance and have lower emissions," the official cited earlier said.
"These may be deployed for goods operation.
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"There are currently 2,466 HHP diesel locomotives with Indian Railways.
Another 966 HHP locos, over and above the planned 2,500 locos, may continue in service for the next few years," the official said.
They will be maintained during the transition period depending on requirement, technology, availability of spares, emission norms and age criteria.
Another batch of 279 shunting diesel locos will also be operational.
As on November 1, nearly 97% of the railway network in the country had been electrified.
This includes 64,285 route kilometres (RKM) spanning 20 states and Union Territories.
Meanwhile, track electrification work is more than 90% complete in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
At 1,166 RKM, Assam has the largest track network yet to be electrified.
The other north eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim also have a high percentage of unelectrified tracks.
In 2023-24, Indian Railways spent ₹14,155.90 crore to run diesel-powered trains.
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