Close on the heels of getting the first four-rake metro train from Brazil at Rs 198 crore, the Koyambedu depot for the Chennai Metro Rail is all set to receive a locomotive from the United States in the next few months.
An official from the National Railway Equipment Company (NREC) told Express that the company would be importing 700 horse power diesel locomotive from the United States in a couple of days.
“The shunting engine will be received within the next couple of days from the United States depending on its sailing status. The locomotive is a state-of-the-art machine that is fuel efficient up to 40 per cent when compared to the conventional diesel engines and would reduce emission up to 70 per cent,” the official said.
He said the engine was compatible to Euro III-A standards and would be handy for shunting purposes, besides emergency operations.
He said that the locomotive could be used when there was a power failure in the metro rail grid to pull out the rakes stranded in the tunnel or in the elevated stretch.
“Since it runs on diesel, it will be quite handy. This is the first of its kind. Usually other metros have battery-operated locomotives,” he said.
Already, Chennai Metro Rail will be getting nine trains from Brazil by the end of this year. NREC is also planning to set up a plant in India.
The foundation stone for a locomotive factory site at Sherpur in Sehore district has already been laid.
The factory is a joint venture with Daulat Ram Engineering Services, which manufactures rolling stock components including traction motors and alternators.