GE-T, BHEL form JV for Railways tender

Bangalore, Oct 21 (UNI) GE Transportation, the leader in global diesel locomotive technology and state-owned Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd (BHEL); have joined hands to compete for the 1,000 diesel locomotive tender issued by the Indian Railways.

According to a release issued here today, GE-T was recently shortlisted by the Indian Railways to compete for this tender and the company, along with BHEL and Indian Railways, intends to form a joint venture for this purpose.

It was planning to supply diesel locomotives based on the company's global 'Evolution Series' platform, which is the most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and low emissions locomotive in the world, the release said.

Evolution Series was one of the best-selling product and more than 2,800 units were in use at present. It delivered five per cent higher fuel efficiency and a 40 per cent reduction in emissions over previous locos, the release added.

GE-T President and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said BHEL's know-how, customer centricity and local operations would help GE delivery its product to Indian Railways in a timely and cost-effective manner.

For more than 45 years, the BHEL had been a leading supplier of propulsion systems and locomotives to Indian Railways. It manufactures about 160 electric locos and supplies over 4,000 sets of electric propulsion systems to Diesel Locomotive Works.

GE-T has established itself as a global technology leader, with close to 4,000 researchers and engineers working at GE-T's John F Welch Technology Centre in the city. This is its first and largest integrated, multi-disciplinary Research and Development Centre outside the US.

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