India’s First High Horse Power Locomotive

India gets its first high horse power loco from France

Question: India has received country’s first high horse power locomotive engine from-

(a) America
(b) Germany
(c) France
(d) Japan

Ans: (c)
Related facts:-

  • In September, 2017, India received the first high horse power locomotive engine of the country from the France.
  • The first supply of the locomotive engine of 12,000 horsepower by Alstom (France) reached the Calcutta port on September 20, 2017.
  • This is the first high powered electric locomotive of its kind, which will be used to run at twice the speed of the current speed of the freight train from next year.
  • In November 2015, Indian Railways had signed a contract with French company Alstom, to manufacture such engines for locomotive factories in Madhepura in Bihar.
  • Under this agreement, 800 such engines will be built by the French company in the next 11 years.
  • This is the first Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) project in the Rail Sector.
  • The cost of this type of locomotive engine is estimated at Rs 30 crores.
  • This locomotive engine will be tested in February -2018.
  • Initially, five engines will be imported, while the remaining 795 engines are to be manufactured locally in support of the government’s Make in India campaign.
  • The total cost of this agreement is 3 billion Euros.
  • This project will be set up in Madhepura of Bihar while two depots will be set up in Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra) respectively for maintenance.
  • This locomotive will be supplied from 2018 to 2028.
  • The locomotive will run at a speed up to 120 km/h.
  • At present, Railways is using 6000 Horse Power Engines for freight services.
  • Under the scheme 35 locomotives will be ready by 2020, 60 locomotives in year 2021.
  • After that, 100 locomotives will be made ready every year unless the target of 800 locomotives is completed.

Reference:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/910428246407286785
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-gets-first-high-power-electric-locomotive-for-freight-trains-from-france/story-cK4flH4aDekdn8tyFoGWNP.html
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/alstom-delivers-first-locomotive-bodyshell-to-india.html