Locos with a powerful motive: Here’s what the Alstom-Indian Railways tie-up has delivered thus far

Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, recently celebrated 10 successful years of Madhepura Electric Locomotive Private Limited (MELPL), its public-private partnership with the Indian Railways, dedicated to building India’s most powerful electric locomotives for freight service.

Through this joint venture, over 550 indigenously manufactured high-powered double-section Prima T8 locomotives of 12,000 HP (9 MW) have been delivered till date.

This milestone was commemorated at the state-of-the-art locomotive maintenance depot in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Powerful engine for ‘Make in India’

In 2015, a landmark contract worth 3.5 billion Euro was awarded by the Indian Railways to supply 800 fully electric super powered double-section locomotives of 12,000 HP capable of hauling 6,000 tonnes, and associated maintenance for a period of 13 years.

Designated by Indian Railways as WAG-12B, these locomotives are built at one of India’s largest integrated greenfield manufacturing facilities at Madhepura, Bihar.

In line with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, Alstom has progressively achieved over 85 percent localization, reinforcing India’s domestic manufacturing prowess and becoming the sixth nation globally to build such powerful locomotives indigenously.

Reflecting on the decade-long journey, Olivier Loison, Managing Director, Alstom India, said: “This is a moment of immense pride, celebrating a strong and enduring partnership that has truly transformed freight movement in India. We have not only put India’s most powerful freight locos on the tracks but have also seen the creation of a world-class industrial ecosystem and laid a foundation for local talent and technology.”

He added: “This project has been a powerful engine for ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, establishing a deep-rooted local supply chain and creating over 10,000 skilled jobs. Our commitment is stronger than ever to leverage this incredible legacy, drive the green logistics revolution, and continue powering India’s journey as a global hub for world-class rail solutions.”

In May 2020, the first e-loco was inducted into commercial service and by October 2020, the Ministry of Railways and Commissioner of Railway Safety had certified these e-locos to operate at a top speed of 120 kmph.

This year, these locos were also deployed for passenger movement during the peak festive season to cater to the growing demand.

To ensure high availability and reducing maintenance cost, Alstom has also built two ultramodern state-of-the-art maintenance depots at Saharanpur and Nagpur, using predictive technologies.

The depots also provide Prompt Response Teams (PRT) across the nation, which comprise trained personnel equipped with tools and critical spares.

Till date, more than 22,000 Indian Railways staff (from Nagpur, Saharanpur and Sabarmati divisions) have been trained.

World-class manufacturing and technical superiority

Based on the contract, one of India’s largest integrated greenfield manufacturing facilities spread across 250 acres has been set up in Madhepura, Bihar.

With a production capacity of 120 locomotives per annum, this industrial site is built to international standards of safety and quality. Equipped with Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT) based propulsion technology, the WAG 12B uses regenerative braking, reducing energy consumption.

Moreover, with this e-loco, Alstom is introducing freight trains that emit lesser heat and traction noise. With 1676mm of Broad Gauge, the e-locos are designed to take smooth turns even at the sharpest of curves.

The Bengaluru connection

The e-locos, designed at Alstom’s Engineering Centre in Bengaluru, use an eight-axle design that would enhance performance of a locomotive. The Prima T8 technology makes operation comfortable and flexible in extreme temperatures, ranging from −50 °C to 50 °C. With this, Alstom introduces novel features into Indian freight trains, such as climate control systems, air conditioners, food preparation and storage facilities and toilets.

The WAG 12B e-locos are also equipped with spacious cabins for pilots to work comfortably.