Siemens will provide advanced signaling and telecommunications technology for India’s first bullet train project, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor. It will deploy European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2-based signaling and train control systems that enable higher train speeds, improved capacity, and enhanced safety through real-time monitoring and centralised traffic control. Siemens technologies will be designed to support train operations at speeds up to 350 km/h, enabling real-time train supervision, continuous wireless communication, and centralised traffic management.
The German multinational conglomerate’s offerings are also finding an imprint on the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, considered as one of India’s most challenging infrastructure initiatives. The technologies deployed include ROCS (rigid overhead catenary system), ideal for mountainous terrain, and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), which enables real-time monitoring and control of electrified assets along the route and enables predictive maintenance and improved system availability. There’s also a full suite of electrification infrastructure technologies designed for high performance in extreme conditions—snow, landslides, and steep gradients.
Indian Railways faces the dual challenge of ensuring passenger safety while embracing rapid technological advancements. Siemens, a key partner for over seven decades, is actively involved in the modernisation of the monolithic freight and passenger carrier. “Indian Railways serves as the lifeline of the nation due to its extensive reach and role in both passenger and freight transport. We are providing cutting-edge technologies and solutions, including electric locomotives and digital platforms, to enhance the efficiency, safety and sustainability of the Indian railway network,” said Rajeev Joisar, head of Mobility Business, Siemens India.
“In an open ecosystem, we bring together rolling stock, rail infrastructure, rail services, and software to provide sustainable and cost-effective rail traffic. With our advanced technologies we enable operators to optimise lifecycle costs for rail infrastructure and rolling stock, maximise system availability and network capacity, and optimise customer experience and processes,” Joisar told FE in an interview.
Siemens is executing a contract to manufacture 1,200 electric locomotives for Indian Railways. Its factories in Nashik, Aurangabad and Mumbai have been manufacturing critical components of the project, with final assembly at the Indian Railways’ factory in Dahod. This facility, constructed in record time of under two years, incorporates cutting-edge features including virtual reality-based safety training, a locomotive simulator and loco-shunters for efficient carriage movement.
“The locomotives will be used for freight transport throughout the Indian Railways network and are specified to haul loads of 5,800 tonnes at a maximum speed of 120 km per hour. The locomotives will be one of the most powerful freight locomotives in the world and will save more than 800 million tons of CO2 emissions over their lifecycle,” Joisar said. The locomotives are equipped with Siemens’ Railigent X platform for predictive maintenance. The digital tracking systems, the Kavach safety system, and green propulsion technology, make these locomotives a beacon of modern rail transport, he added.
Siemens is also developing digital twins for railway systems, enabling real-time simulation and monitoring of physical assets. This helps in predictive diagnostics, optimising maintenance schedules and improving safety and reliability of rail operations. The German firm has come up with an innovative cybersecurity Internet of Things (IoT) solution to secure the remote diagnostic and predictive maintenance system. This project aims to build a connected and secure system using information technology/ operational technology (IT/OT) integration to enable secure digital solutions for the railway, Joisar said.
Some of India’s urban metro projects heavily rely on Siemens technologies to enhance efficiency and passenger experience. Technologies for Bengaluru Metro include communications-based train control (CBTC) and the complete telecommunication system. In Pune, Siemens is part of a consortium developing Metro Line 3, a 23.3-km elevated corridor connecting Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar. It is responsible for turnkey electrification, signalling, communications and depot works, with the project being executed under a PPP model. The company is also providing advanced rail electrification technologies for Gujarat Metro Rail Corp—Surat Metro Phase 1 (over 40 km covering 38 stations and 2 depots) and Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2 (over 28 km covering 23 stations and 1 depot).