Alstom delivers 500th Electric Locomotive to Indian Railways

Madhepura, India (Metro Rail Today): Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has proudly delivered its 500th electric locomotive to Indian Railways, marking a significant milestone in the modernization of India’s rail infrastructure. This achievement reflects Alstom's strong commitment to supporting the country's ambitious freight transportation goals.

The 500th fully India-made Prima T8 WAG12B e-locomotive was flagged off from Alstom’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Madhepura, Bihar. The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Mr. Manish Kumar, Chief Administrative Officer of Indian Railways, along with senior officials from Alstom. This delivery is part of Alstom's €3.5 billion contract to supply 800 high-powered Prima T8 locomotives, each with a 12,000 HP capacity, for freight services across India.

Designed to haul ~6,000-tonne rakes at speeds of up to 120 km/h, the WAG12B locomotives are engineered for high efficiency and performance. To further support these advancements, Alstom has established cutting-edge maintenance depots in Saharanpur and Nagpur, incorporating predictive technologies to minimize downtime and maintenance costs.

Alstom India’s Managing Director, Olivier Loison, remarked, “The delivery of our 500th electric locomotive underscores our dedication to modernizing India’s railway infrastructure, especially for freight services, contributing to the country’s economic growth through enhanced speed, efficiency, and reliability."

Manufactured at one of India’s largest greenfield facilities in Madhepura, this project is a prime example of the 'Make in India' initiative, with over 85% of components sourced locally. The facility, which has a production capacity of 120 locomotives per year, has achieved nearly 90% localization. This collaboration between Alstom and Indian Railways is also the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) project in the Indian railway sector.

The advanced technology used in the WAG12B locomotives, including Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) based propulsion and regenerative braking, ensures significant energy savings, reduces operational costs, and minimizes congestion on India’s rail network. The locomotives have already covered over 120 million kilometers, transporting essential goods such as coal, cement, food grains, and petrochemical products.

With over 100 years of presence in India, Alstom continues to be a strategic partner in India’s rail revolution, supporting both the freight and passenger transportation sectors through sustainable, cutting-edge technology.