The state-of-the-art Marhowra factory is operated by a diverse and talented workforce, comprised of over 25 percent women.
Wabtec Corporation is celebrating several milestones and accomplishments as it participates in IREE 2019. The event coincides with the completion of one year of operations at both its Roza maintenance shed and Marhowra factory, which will soon deliver its 100th locomotive. The facilities, constructed as part of the company's commitment to ‘Make in India,' have been focal points of the historic project with the Government of India and Indian Railways.
Two years ago, at the same IREE event, legacy GE Transportation announced the arrival of its first 4500 horsepower (HP) locomotive at the Mundra Port. To date, there are 135 such locomotives in revenue service with the Indian Railways, including 85 that were fully manufactured in India with 70 percent local content. Wabtec's 6000 HP diesel-electric locomotive, the first in India, is currently undergoing test trials on Indian Railways track and is expected to enter revenue service soon.
The state-of-the-art Marhowra factory is operated by a diverse and talented workforce, comprised of over 25 percent women. Wabtec's partnership with both global and local suppliers has helped establish an integrated ecosystem, enabling a fast ramp up of local manufacturing and creating more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across India.
The Roza maintenance shed has completed regular maintenance of 100 locomotives and trained nearly 2,000 service technicians through the company's training institute. This globally trained service team, in partnership with Wabtec's Real-Time Monitoring and Diagnostic Centre at Roza, is helping ensure exceptional reliability across the Indian Railways locomotive fleet.
"The team's passion for these locomotives and determination to meet project deliverables is unmatched, as demonstrated by the results we've seen so far," said Wabtec's Sandeep Selot, Managing Director, GE Diesel Electric Locomotive Private Limited. "We are proud to receive positive feedback on the overall experience of our locomotives from the locopilots themselves, including ease of operation, ergonomic comfort, improved visibility and enhanced tractive effort. This excites us even more as we approach the next milestones for the project."
In addition to Wabtec's progress on locomotive production, the company's community outreach programs in and around the Marhowra factory have fueled vocational training and educational equity. Efforts have resulted in skill development for over 250 female entrepreneurs and increased attendance by the students at the Talpuraina Middle School where Wabtec employees serve as volunteer instructors.
"As Wabtec continues to integrate as one company, we look forward to the meaningful impact we can have on India's future economic development," said Dr. Sujatha Narayan, Regional General Manager for Wabtec Corporation in India.
END
