Indian Railways to export modern locomotives, trains worth Rs 680 crores to Sri Lanka

Indian Railways is all set to supply modern locomotives and train sets worth Rs 680 crore to Sri Lanka, in the largest export order for the public transporter.

Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), a railways PSU, has secured its largest export order from Sri Lanka Railways for the supply of 10 broad gauge diesel locomotives and six DMU (diesel multiple units) train sets.

DMU train sets do not require separate locomotive as the engines are incorporated into one or more of its coaches.

All locomotives and train sets would be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and manufactured in Varanasi and Chennai, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

The contract will be funded under the Indian Line of Credit to Sri Lanka announced in 2011, and supplies will be made over the next two years, the official said.

RITES, which also serves as the export arm of the railways, is at present executing a contract for the supply of 18 locomotives to Myanmar Railways.

It had earlier exported 20 DMU train sets, three locomotives to Sri Lanka, besides providing expertise for setting up railway maintenance facilities and training of the island nation's railway officials during the period 2008-12.

Supplies of locomotives from Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) in Varanasi would be completed in 2017-18.

RITES has also actively pursued exports of locomotives and passenger coaches to Bangladesh Railway. It has exported 120 LHB coaches from its Kapurthala factory.

It has been the endeavour of RITES to facilitate rail infrastructure development in the South Asian countries, particularly in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

In order to foster regional cooperation with these countries, the government has been extending various lines of credit for funding railway projects for export of Indian Railways-manufactured locomotives and rolling stock.