Indian Railways To Be Supplied With Hitachi ABB Transformers As Part Of $23 Million Order

As part of the ongoing modernization of the Indian Railways, Hitachi ABB Power Grids in India has won orders worth about $23 million (around Rs 167 crore) to power electric freight locomotives.

Hitachi Power Grids in India, won the orders from the Government of India’s electric locomotive manufacturer Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) and the Central Organization for Rail Electrification (CORE).

For CLW, Hitachi ABB Power Grids will deliver traction transformers for one of Indian Railways’ most successful class of locomotives, the WAG 9, which was developed in response to strong growth in the rail freight transportation sector; for CORE, it will supply trackside transformers, the company said in a statement.

The trackside transformers reduce power voltage from the utility power network to a suitable level before feeding it to the railway catenary conductors. Traction transformers route power from the catenary for essential train functions such as traction, lighting, ventilation, braking, signaling and communication.

Indian Railways is aiming to create a future-ready railway system, bringing down logistics costs for industry and supporting the Make-in-India initiative. The government plans to achieve 100 per cent rail electrification by December 2023 and make Indian Railways a net-zero carbon emitter by 2030.

“These orders are a source of immense pride for us at Hitachi ABB Power Grids. They advance our vision of playing a pivotal role in rail electrification in India and enabling improvements in rail safety, capacity and speed,” said N Venu, Managing Director, Hitachi ABB Power Grids in India.

“Such partnerships will help lower our dependence on imported fossil fuel and reduce both fuel costs and carbon emissions for the Indian Railways,” he added.

Headquartered in Switzerland, Hitachi ABB Power Grids is a leading technology firm employing around 36,000 people in 90 countries.

The business serves utility, industry and infrastructure customers across the value chain, and emerging areas like sustainable mobility, smart cities, energy storage and data centers.