Alstom bags €62 Million Contract to maintain WAG-12B Locomotives at Sabarmati Depot

Ahmedabad, India (Metro Rail Today): Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, through its joint venture with Indian Railways, Madhepura Electric Locomotive Private Limited (MELPL), has secured a €62 million contract from Indian Railways to undertake maintenance of WAG-12B electric freight locomotives at the Sabarmati locomotive depot.

The contract covers maintenance services for the balance 300 WAG-12B locomotives yet to be delivered under the original 800-locomotive contract awarded to Alstom in 2015. The scope of work will extend until February 2031 and includes both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance activities to meet stringent availability and reliability targets.

Under the agreement, MELPL will be responsible for comprehensive maintenance services, including material supply, locomotive washing, logistics support and remote diagnostics. This contract builds on Alstom’s existing maintenance operations at its ultramodern depots in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Nagpur, Maharashtra, which together maintain the first 500 WAG-12B locomotives using advanced digital and predictive technologies.

Commenting on the development, Olivier Loison, Managing Director, Alstom India, said the renewed trust from Indian Railways reflects the strong performance record established over the past decade. He noted that Alstom and MELPL have worked closely with Indian Railways in supporting its freight modernisation and capacity enhancement goals, adding that the company’s maintenance capabilities and reliability track record have been key to this continued partnership.

As part of Alstom’s FlexCare Perform maintenance offering, the contract also предусматривает servicing of critical depot infrastructure and deployment of Prompt Response Teams (PRTs). These teams will be positioned at strategic locations and equipped with specialised tools and critical spare parts to ensure rapid intervention and minimal locomotive downtime. Alstom will also continue its large-scale skill development initiatives, under which more than 22,000 Indian Railways personnel have already been trained.

Industry experts view the contract as a significant milestone in India’s transition towards greener and more efficient freight transportation. The Prima T8 WAG-12B locomotives, each rated at 12,000 horsepower, are capable of hauling freight loads of up to 6,000 tonnes. Built entirely in India under the €3.5 billion 2015 contract, these locomotives play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions by replacing diesel traction, while simultaneously increasing network capacity and operational efficiency.

The latest maintenance contract further reinforces Alstom’s long-term commitment to India’s rail modernisation programme and underlines the growing importance of lifecycle-based service models in achieving sustainable and high-performance rail operations.