ABB-Hitachi venture wins big order from Railways

NEW DELHI: Newly-formed Hitachi ABB Power Grids has won a Rs 120 crore order from the Indian Railways to deliver transformers to be used in 400 passenger and freight locomotive engines. It is the first such bid won by the entity.

As part of the Indian Railways' (IR) initiative to reach 100% electrification of its broad gauge lines by 2023, Hitachi ABB will be delivering the transformers to the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in West Bengal, which is India's nodal electric locomotive manufacturing unit.

Currently, IR has commissioned about 37,237 kilometres of rail lines on electric traction, which forms 58% of its total broad gauge network.


The Japanese-European entity will deliver two types of transformers- the 6,531 kVA for goods engines, and a 7,775 kVA for passenger locomotives. These devices will help the train in traction, lighting, brakes, signaling, and a variety of other essential train functions.

On July 1, Hitachi and ABB combined to form a joint venture worth $11 billion. N. Venu, the entity's India MD, told ET that their focus in India would be on e-mobility in the near future, as they see a huge opportunity in that sphere.