In a significant leap for India’s railway export ambitions, the Marhowrah Diesel Locomotive Factory in Bihar will manufacture and ship 150 high-powered locomotives to Guinea as part of a ₹3,000 crore (US$ 345.9 million) deal. These state-of-the-art Evolution Series ES43ACmi locomotives will support Guinea’s ambitious Simandou iron ore project — one of Africa’s largest mining developments.
This deal, secured through global competitive bidding, marks a strategic win under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, strengthening India’s footprint in global rail infrastructure and deepening India-Africa trade ties.
Key Highlights:
- Total Value: ₹3,000 crore (US$ 345.9 million)
- Locomotives: 150 Evolution Series ES43ACmi, built with Wabtec
- Delivery Timeline:
- 37 locomotives in FY 2025–26
- 82 in FY 2026–27
- 31 in FY 2027–28
- Power & Tech:
- 4,500 HP engines with AC propulsion
- Regenerative braking
- Microprocessor-based control systems
- Modular design for easy maintenance
- Fire detection and Distributed Power Wireless Control System (DPWCS)
Global & Economic Impact:
- First-of-its-kind large-scale loco export to Guinea
- Multi-gauge factory setup: Supports broad, standard & Cape gauges
- Employment Impact:
- 285 direct jobs at Marhowrah facility
- Over 2,100 indirect jobs across India through the joint venture
- Boost to African Infrastructure: Locos will haul 100-wagon iron ore trains efficiently across Guinea
This milestone project positions India as a competitive global supplier of heavy-haul rail solutions and reinforces its commitment to high-value manufacturing exports.