THREE PHASE ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES
(a) Need
Indian Railways
imported 2900 HP passenger and freight locomotives alongwith transfer of
technology from 50 cycles group in France in the year 1960.
The indigenous production of locomotive was taken up at CLW in the year
1965. Indian Railways have been
continuing with this technology for over 30 years and during this period
improved it to optimise its use to produce 5000HP freight and passenger
locomotives. Further upgradation
was not possible. With the increase in train loads and need for higher
speeds both for passenger and freight to enable hauling of more traffic with
existing infrastructure, it became important to upgrade existing technology of
electric locomotives and, thus IR decided to go for most modern three phase high
horse power electric locomotives.
(b)
Acquisition
IR
have acquired 30 nos (10 passenger and 20 freight) high horse power ‘state of
the art’ microprocessor controlled GTO thyristor based three phase drive
electric locos from M/s Bombardier Transportation (earlier called ABB),
Switzerland alongwith transfer of technology (TOT) to manufacture them
indigenously at Chittaranjan
Locomotive Works (CLW). The contract was placed in july’1993. These
locomotives have been received during the period Oct’95 to Oct’97 and have
been put in service.
(c)
Indigenous manufacturing by
Indian Railways:
Through Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with Bombardier,
Switzerland for 5 major electrical equipments i.e. Power Converter, Auxiliary
Converter, Control Electronics, Transformer and Traction Motor to Indian
Industry and three other
items i.e. bogies, shell and traction motors to CLW, first indigenously
built 3-phase electric locomotive was turned out by CLW on 14th Nov., 1998.
The cost of these locomotives has been progressively coming down
from the original import cost of Rs. 22 cr. (excluding custom duties)
through indigenisation initiatives. CLW
has so far manufactured 40 locomotives with indigenisation of major items
and the cost per locomotive has come down to 12.5 cr.
(d) Salient data and
sections on which these locomotives are working:
Passenger
Locomotive (WAP5)
|
Base shed |
: |
Ghaziabad (Northern Railway) |
|
Power |
: |
4000 KW |
|
Speed Potential |
: |
160 kmph |
