FIVE LOCOMOTIVES FOR KTM FROM INDIA

BY P.VIJIAN

NEW DELHI, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Five Indian-made diesel-electric powered
locomotives meant for Malaysia's national train company, KTM Bhd, are ready to
be shipped to Malaysia.

The five units costing nearly RM4.6 million, were specially modified at the
Goldenrock Workshop in the southern Indian city of Tiruchi to be exported
through the Indian Railway Corporation (IRCON), which bagged the order from KTM.

"It took us two months to modify the five locomotives. Earlier consignments
of 43 locomotives, delivered between 1993 and 2001 through IRCON, are working
satisfactorily.

"Based on this satisfactory performance, IRCON required five more
locomotives for KTM to meet additional traffic needs," V. Carmelus, the Southern
Railways Chief Mechanical Engineer, told Bernama.

The five YDM4 model locomotives were modified to suit Malaysian railway
tracks.

For the Goldenrock Workshop, the five locomotives meant for KTM brought the
total number of units shipped out from the facility to date, to 116.

The 79-year old workshop is a premier centre for the restoration and
rebuilding of locomotives in India.

IRCON has had a long association with Malaysia in respect of the
rehabilitation of railway tracks.The company has completed over 11 major
projects, covering nearly 400 km of tracks in the peninsula.

It also holds an agreement with KTM for maintenance works on the YDM4
locomotives.

Last year, Malaysia also awarded IRCON the RM3.6 billion (US$1 billion)
project to construct electrified double tracking lines between Seremban and
Gemas.
-- BERNAMA