How Data-Driven Maintenance Practices are Being Adopted by Top Locomotive Maintenance Companies

Locomotive maintenance is the process used to service, repair, inspect, and perform crucial maintenance on the locomotives. Locomotive maintenance involves various tasks that are focused on ensuring the reliable and safe operation of locomotives, including engine maintenance, electrical systems, brakes, traction motors, wheels, and several other components. Locomotive maintenance is necessary for maintaining the safety, longevity, and efficiency of rail vehicles used for different purposes, such as freight and passenger transportation.

Various advancements in technology, such as digital maintenance, are accelerating the market for locomotive maintenance globally. In the current scenario, the locomotive is operating at higher frequencies and capacities, with more passengers and goods being transported by rail. The growth in rail transportation is creating a higher demand for locomotive maintenance services as the operators are prioritizing reliability, cost-efficiency, and safety to fulfil the regulatory requirements and help expand their operations.  

According to Fortune Business Insights™, the global market for locomotive maintenance market could be worth USD 8.22 billion by 2030, recording a CAGR of 4.7% over 2023-2030. The market stood at USD 5.71 billion in 2022 and USD 5.95 billion in 2023.

Fortune Business Insights™ Presents The Top 5 Locomotive Maintenance Companies Globally

1. CRRC Corporation Limited

CRRC Corporation Limited is a Chinese government-owned and publicly traded company with headquarters located in Beijing, China. The company was founded in 2015 and designs and manufactures rail equipment and rolling stock and is one of the leading rail infrastructure and rolling stock companies in the market. The company is responsible for designing, manufacturing, commissioning, testing, and maintaining the rolling stock, such as diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic locomotives, electric locomotives, trams & light, EMUs and DMUs for regional and suburban transport, and high-speed trains of more than 350 km/h. The main aim of the company is to build locomotive maintenance projects with railway operators that will help to retain customers and serve in major domestic markets.

August 2022 – CRRC signed a locomotive maintenance project with the Pakistan Railways. The new project includes the maintenance of 63 locomotives delivered by CRRC and has been operating since 2014. The project aims to improve the online operation of locomotives, further expanding the benefits of CRRC locomotives in the Pakistan market.

2. Wabtec Corporation

Founded in 1869, Wabtec Corporation is headquartered in Pennsylvania, U.S., and has a strong global presence with its footprint in 50 nations. The company is a U.S.-based rail technology company with expertise in designing and delivering innovative products and services in the rail and other industries. The company is operating in the transit and freight market, generating a majority of the company’s revenue. The products and services of Wabtec Corporation include freight cars, locomotives, digital intelligence, freight service, mining, transit, and adjacent solutions. The company also offers locomotive maintenance services, such as maintenance consulting services.

October 2022 – Wabtec Corporation and Akiem, one of Europe’s leading rolling stock leasing companies, signed a maintenance contract for the critical equipment for a fleet of locomotives in Europe. The new contract will improve the reliability, safety, and availability of rolling stocks for Akiem’s customers.

3. Alstom

One of the top locomotive maintenance companies, Alstom was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Saint-Ouen, France. It operates in the rail transport markets globally. The company is specialized in providing rail transport products and systems, including systems, services, transport equipment, and signaling for suburban, urban, regional, and freight transport and mainline passenger. The company offers solutions related to signaling, turnkey, and services. The rail services of the company include system maintenance, train operation, component and parts overhaul, rolling stock maintenance, asset life management, and digital solutions.

April 2023 – Alstom acquired HealthHub to improve its locomotive maintenance services. HealthHub is responsible for developing digital technologies, including predictive maintenance, to gain insights and analyze train data, which will improve service performance and locomotive maintenance.

4. Transmashholding (TMH) Group

Transmashholding (TMH) Group is a manufacturer of rolling stock for urban rail transport. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Moscow, Russia, the company provides rolling stock, motion control, engines, digital technologies, casting, components, and other products. It also offers different products and services, from the design and development of rolling stock to digital traffic control systems and turnkey maintenance. The company is responsible for supplying metro cars, engines, components, locomotives, and passenger trains and coaches for railway manufacturers and operators in 30 nations globally. Transmashholding (TMH) Group and LocoTech have partnered to deliver refurbishment, repair, and maintenance of locomotives.

April 2023 – The Transmashholding JSC (TMH) signed a contract with the Indian Railways to provide electric trains and maintenance services. The contract is valued at USD 6.5 billion, of which USD 1.8 billion is granted for the train supply and USD 2.5 billion is granted for the maintenance services for 35 years.

5. Siemens AG 

Siemens AG is a German multinational company founded in 1874 and headquartered in Munich, Germany. The company has a worldwide presence of over 200 locations and focuses on smart and intelligent infrastructure for distributed energy systems and buildings, along with power generation, automation, distribution, and digitalization in the manufacturing industries. Siemens offers a range of rail services via its division called as Siemens Mobility, such as technical support and maintenance for their rail infrastructure and rolling stock.

July 2023 – Siemens Mobility, a Siemens AG’s division, and Alpha Trains, a trains and locomotive lessor in Europe, partnered to complete the maintenance and services of Vectron locomotives for 15 years, along with the revisions at the Siemens Rail Service Center. The locomotive maintenance is conducted in 13 different mobility service centers of the company across Europe.

How Digitalization And Data-Driven Maintenance PracticesHolds The Change For the Market in the Upcoming Years

Nowadays, top locomotive maintenance companies are adopting digitalization and data-driven maintenance practices because of their benefits in leveraging advanced technologies and data analytics. Increasing usage of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms by companies in the industry to make maintenance recommendations and process data will help companies gain a competitive advantage in the locomotive maintenance industry.