Purpose-built: new single-stage spur gear drive designed for the demanding requirements of Indian railways
New Delhi (India). ZF is unveiling a new rail gearbox during the 16th International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE) from October 15-17, 2025. The single-stage spur gear drive is purpose-built for the nation’s railways. True to the company’s claim of ‘Redefining Indian mobility’, the gearbox is designed for reliable, efficient performance under harsh conditions. ZF will present the new gearbox, as well as other products from its rail portfolio, at its Booth 5.114 in Hall 5.
Indian Railways operates across a wide range of challenging terrains, facing extreme weather conditions such as heat, humidity, and snow. The extensive network also includes winding routes and changes in elevation. These diverse operating environments necessitate ongoing maintenance and modernisation to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of one of the world’s largest rail networks.
“These factors demand a lot from the driveline,” says Markus Gross, Head of Product Line Rail Drive Systems at ZF. “We are proud to present technology that the Indian Railways can depend on. Our products perform both efficiently and reliably. This is exactly what our new single-stage spur gear drive offers.”
Akash Passey, President of ZF Group in India, adds: “With a proven legacy of over a century in rail technology, ZF Group stands uniquely positioned to support the evolving needs of Indian railways. As one of the world’s largest people movers, Indian Railways carries an immense responsibility for safe, efficient, and secure mobility across the nation. At ZF, we recognise this mission and are proud to offer advanced, reliable, and efficient solutions that are purpose-built for India’s dynamic and revolutionary rail ecosystem. Together, we aim to empower safe and seamless connectivity for millions of passengers across millions of kilometres – today and into the future.”
For the new single-stage spur gear drive, ZF was able to rely on existing components – with their quality proven over millions of kilometres in operation. This legacy has been adapted into a product purpose-built for high-speed applications in India, like the Vande Bharat Express and other train types. One of its defining features is its new, specially developed sphere cast housing, best suited for the tough environmental conditions in India and the oscillatory demands of the routes. Despite this robust housing, it is both compact and comparatively light, with a weight of approximately 315 kg (including torque arm).
Designed for a maximum axle load of 17 tons, a nominal engine power of 300 kW and an input torque of 2,600 Nm, the gearbox ensures consistent and reliable performance at speeds up to 180 km/h. Thanks to its optimised gearing – and experience from decades of producing more than 30,000 high- and semi-highspeed gearboxes – it achieves both high efficiency and lower total lifecycle costs.
While the single-stage spur gear drive is based on German know-how, its assembly takes place in ZF’s newly inaugurated plant in Coimbatore. The company continues with its focus on growth in emerging markets with products and solutions that address the specific needs of the Indian customers and has invested accordingly to extend its existing assembly lines with rail-specific equipment. “Our local-for-local strategy is one of our company’s greatest strengths,” says Akash Passey. “It ensures that our products and services, including aftermarket, are always close and closely tailored to our customers. This means that we can not only guarantee benchmark-setting quality but also speed of delivery and a more robust supply chain.”
“Our strengths and competencies are fully on display with this product. It also marks a further important step in our ongoing commitments to our international customers and global footprint,” adds Markus Gross.
The first orders for the new gearbox have already been received. Delivery will start in the first quarter of 2026. Further investments in additional assembly lines are planned.
News Source ZF
