Mundra Ships Made In India Locomotives To West Africa
Newzdaddy Business Updates
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) at Mundra has enabled the export of advanced “Made in India” railway locomotives to Guinea, West Africa, marking another milestone in India’s growing industrial and export journey.
This export is part of a large contract to send 150 locomotives from India to Guinea. The locomotives are being built under a joint venture between Indian Railways and Wabtec, a global rail-transit firm. The factory is in Marhaura (also spelt Marhowrah), Saran, Bihar. This move is consistent with India’s “Make in India” / “Make for the World” initiative, which aims to boost domestic manufacturing and export of high-value industrial goods.
Manufactured at the Locomotive Factory in Marhora, Saran, Bihar, these engines reflect India’s robust manufacturing capacity and engineering excellence. In collaboration with Indian Railways and the Government of India, about 1–2 locomotives will be shipped every month, with a total of nearly 150 locomotives planned for export. Designed to run on the 1.435-meter standard gauge, the engines travel across India’s broad-gauge network to Mundra Port for shipment.
The exact model is the Evolution Series ES43ACmi locomotive. These are powerful diesel freight locomotives (≈ 4500 horsepower) meant for heavy haul work. The locomotives have to be adapted (bogie exchange) because India’s internal network mostly uses broad gauge (1,676 mm), whereas many export customers (like in Guinea) use standard gauge (1,435 mm). The Marhaura plant has tracks of multiple gauges (broad, standard, Cape) for testing and manufacturing international standard units.
The plan is to ship 1-2 locomotives a month, to deliver the full lot (150) over about three years. The Mundra Port team expertly managed the bogie transfer, transportation, and heavy cargo handling, ensuring seamless logistics. “We are showcasing India’s capabilities not just in machinery, but also in the world,” said a Mundra Port spokesperson. At Mundra Port, there are specialised operations: receiving the locomotives, lifting the superstructure, replacing the broad-gauge bogies with standard-gauge bogies, transporting on hydraulic trailers, inspecting, and then loading onto vessels. This requires precision and heavy-lifting capacity.
The conversion operations happen via the Agri Park siding and Mundra’s heavy-cargo management systems. From the factories of Bihar to the shores of Gujarat, this achievement highlights India’s integrated supply chain, supported by Adani Ports’ world-class infrastructure. “India is on a continuous path of growth — we are building, moving, and delivering for the world,” added an APSEZ official. The Marhaura factory began operations in 2018 under this joint venture (Indian Railways + Wabtec) and already has delivered locomotives for Indian Railways. Now it is expanding to export.
The deal is valued at approximately Rs 3,000 crore (several hundred million USD) for the 150 locomotives. This milestone underscores India’s strengthening role in global trade while boosting local economies, creating jobs, and attracting foreign investment. With the successful export of complex cargo like locomotives, Mundra Port continues to reinforce its position as a vital link between India and international markets.
Employment impact: the factory employs many people directly and indirectly. For example, the Marhaura plant directly employs a few hundred and supports over a thousand indirectly. The locomotives are intended to serve Guinea’s Simandou iron-ore project, an ambitious mining and infrastructure initiative.
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