Indian Railways (IR) has uploaded a request for qualification (RFQ) from potential vendors for procurement and maintenance of its new age passenger electric locomotive.
In a letter to potential vendors/ JVs / consortiums, IR put up the functional requirement specifications (FRS), RFQ and the draft procurement-cum-maintenance agreement documents of the new age passenger electric loco on the website of Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW).
IR plans to shortlist potential technological partners for designing, manufacturing (including option for transfer of technology of various assemblies /sub-assemblies) and long term maintenance of these new age electric locomotives, through the process of RFQ followed by RFP (request for proposal).
The process of procurement of new age passenger electric locos is being done as per the Railway Board’s policy dated 25/06/2026. The functional requirement specifications (FRS) of the new age passenger electric locomotive are as follows:
- Gauge: 1676 mm (Broad Gauge)
- Power: 9000 kW (12000 HP)
- Number of Axles : 12, in twin Co-Co units configuration
- Traction: 25 kV AC
- Four pantographs — 2 per unit
- High-power passenger service
- ≥500 kWh hotel-load battery
- IGBT/SiC traction converters
- KAVACH enabled
- Advanced braking and vigilance systems
- Hotel-load supply for a 22-coach LHB train
- Redundant hotel-load converters
- Cybersecurity provisions
According to the FRS, the locomotive shall be configured as two identical Co-Co units working in either push-pull mode with one Co-Co unit in front of the train and other Co-Co unit in the rear or in coupled mode with both Co-Co units attached together along with driver’s cab at each end of both unit of the locomotive.
One end of both units shall be aerodynamically designed to meet the performance requirement as per the FRS and shall be referred to as driving end. The other end shall be flat for shunting/emergency driving purpose and shall be referred to as shunting end.