Bombardier wins breakthrough contract by Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation

Bombardier Transportation announced today it has won a groundbreaking contract for propulsion and control equipment in India from Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC). MRVC is a joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the Government of Maharashtra.

The project, funded equally by the World Bank and the Government of India, is valued at approximately INR 11.2 billion (162 million euro, $214 million US). It involves design, manufacturing, delivery and testing of BOMBARDIER MITRAC propulsion and control equipment, as well as additional equipment including fans, compressors, passenger information systems and high voltage instruments. The order relates to a total of 72 commuter trains of 12 cars each. Deliveries of the equipment will start in the last quarter of 2012 with completion of deliveries in the third quarter of 2014.

The production will take place at Bombardier’s plant in Maneja, India, supported by Bombardier’s sites in Mannheim and Hennigsdorf, Germany. Bombardier’s Propulsion and Controls Production and Development Centre at the Maneja site in Vadodara, Gujarat, was recently expanded and has been supplying Indian Railways for decades with converters and electronic devices for train control and communications.

Indian Railways controls more than 800 km of track on the rail network between Western and Central Railways. Every day it runs nearly 2,500 trains on time, safely accommodating approximately seven million passengers. Bombardier’s highly reliable and energy efficient MITRAC propulsion and control equipment will support MRVC in regeneration and saving electrical energy, increasing passenger satisfaction and reducing operational costs.

“With this latest order, we continue to consolidate our position to provide support to the railway systems in India,” said Benoît Cattin Martel, President and Managing Director, Bombardier Transportation, India. “It is a prestigious project and the largest for Bombardier’s Propulsion and Controls business in India. Moving forward, our large manufacturing and engineering presence in India combined with our local experience, international expertise, other projects like Delhi Metro and eco-friendly technologies mean we are ideally placed to bring India to the world stage in rail transportation.”

Per Allmer, President, Propulsion and Controls, Bombardier Transportation, said: “This order also confirms the unique position of Bombardier MITRAC Propulsion and Control systems in the Indian market, where we provide a complete chain of reliable and sustainable solutions for a full range of rail vehicles. It is an excellent endorsement of our growing relationship in India and encourages us to firmly pursue other projects in the country.”

Bombardier MITRAC propulsion and control equipment provides sustainable mobility and reliable operation under environmental conditions unique to Mumbai, including high temperatures, humidity and heavy monsoons which can cause flooding on rail tracks. The completed sets of propulsion and electrical equipment for the 72 EMU trains will be delivered to Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai for installation and pre-commissioning. Final commissioning will take place at the EMU shed in Mumbai.

Bombardier has built a strong presence in India, not only through its INR 2.3 billion investment in building its manufacturing facility at Savli, Gujarat, but also through its engineering centre in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh and its working relationships with local customers and partners like the Indian Railways and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The company’s team in India incorporates local and international rail transportation experts, a huge benefit to both Bombardier and the rail industry in India.

Bombardier MITRAC propulsion systems – the heart, muscles and brain of a train

The MITRAC portfolio is a complete family of propulsion and control products for metros, locomotives as well as commuter, regional, intercity and high speed trains. It powers some of the world’s most reliable fleets, offering a smooth start, rapid acceleration, constant speed and low noise levels for an altogether comfortable rail journey. The MITRAC portfolio enhances the competitiveness of public transportation through its energy efficient, lightweight and compact designs. Some 40,000 MITRAC IGBT propulsion converters are in use around the world. Their modular design allows for flexibility in adapting systems to individual customers’ requirements. In addition, the modules are easily accessible for maintenance and repair.

Bombardier Transportation in India

As a global leader in rail technology, Bombardier Transportation has demonstrated its strategic commitment to the Indian market with several major investments over the last four decades. These investments have taken the form of manufacturing facilities, proven technologies and most importantly talent. Bombardier Transportation employs more than 1,500 people in India, where it has established a significant industrial presence with its new railway vehicle manufacturing site at Savli, Gujarat, propulsion systems manufacturing facility and software development centre for signalling and traction applications at Maneja, Gujarat and engineering centre in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, which is already sourcing key global projects. Bombardier is the first foreign multinational company with the capacity to manufacture complete railway vehicles in India, including bogies, carbody production units, a final assembly area, and state-of-the-art rail equipment. The company also has research and development and training centres in India.