Indian locomotive class WAG-12
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Locomotive manufacturing |
| Founded | October 11, 2017 in Madhepura, Bihar, India |
| Founder | Alstom, Indian Railways |
| Headquarters | Madhepura , India |
Area served | India |
| Products | Electric locomotives (WAG-12B) |
| Owner | Indian Railways (26%), Alstom (74%) |
The WAG-12B represents a series of dual-section electric locomotives introduced in 2017 through a collaboration between Alstom and Indian Railways. Its designation reflects its specifications: wide gauge (W), alternating current (A), freight service (G), and the model series number (12). Trial operations commenced in 2019. By July 2025, production had reached 530 units at the Electric Locomotive Factory, Madhepura located in Bihar.
Delivering a power output of 12,000 horsepower, the WAG-12B offers double the power compared to its forerunner, the Indian locomotive class WAG-9. It is engineered specifically for deployment on freight corridors managed by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India, capable of hauling loads exceeding 6,000 tonnes at speeds ranging between 100 and 120 km/h, thereby significantly enhancing average freight transit speeds along these routes.
Origins
The inception of the WAG-12B traces back to 2006 when the Government of India sanctioned the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) initiative and established the DFCCIL to oversee its implementation. At that time, the most powerful locomotive available—the WAG-9—was considered inadequate for efficient operations on the new corridors. This led to a tender process for locomotives tailored explicitly for DFC use, marking a departure from previous models produced by CLW under technology transfer agreements.
In June 2008, the Ministry of Railways issued a global invitation for bids to design and manufacture these locomotives, alongside plans to establish a new electric locomotive manufacturing facility in Madhepura, Bihar. This plant was intended to produce and service 660 high-powered locomotives through a joint venture arrangement, with Indian Railways holding a 26% stake and the selected partner owning 74%, potentially representing India's first foreign direct investment within its entirely state-owned railway sector.
Leading companies such as General Electric, Alstom, Bombardier Transportation, Siemens Mobility, China CNR, and CSR Corporation submitted proposals. The initial order quantity was later increased from 660 to 800 units. In June 2013, the Research Design and Standards Organisation released specifications for an eight-axle locomotive optimized for dedicated freight corridors. Following a competitive bidding process, Alstom was awarded the contract in November 2015 to manufacture these locomotives.
Development
After signing a contract valued at , the Ministry of Railways partnered with Alstom to form a joint venture for production. The first unit was projected to enter operational service by 28 February 2018. Alstom based this new locomotive on its proven Prima T8 platform. This procurement marked Indian Railways' first acquisition of new locomotives in two decades.
The official launch took place on 10 April 2018 in Madhepura, Bihar, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled India’s most powerful electric locomotive.
Production
During the development phase, Alstom engaged ABB in 2016 to manufacture 1600 traction transformers at their facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.[1] The braking systems were procured from Knorr-Bremse in 2017, with production taking place in Palwal, Haryana.[2] Coupler components were provided by Faiveley Transport. Approximately 85-90% of the parts are sourced locally.[3]
The initial bodyshell was delivered to Haldia Port, West Bengal on 20 September 2017, subsequently transported to the Electric Locomotive Factory (Alstom Madhepura) where final assembly commenced on 11 October 2017.[4][5] The first locomotive, bearing the number 60001, underwent testing at Madhepura on 27 February 2018.[6][7]
Delivery timelines span from 2018 through 2028, starting with five units by the end of 2019. Annual production is planned to increase progressively: 35 units in 2020, 60 in 2021, and reaching a steady output of 100 locomotives per year from 2022 until all 800 units are completed.[5]
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 35 | 60 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 800 |
Design
This locomotive is a three-phase electric freight engine consisting of two identical sections, each mounted on twin-axled Bo-Bo bogies. Developed collaboratively by Alstom and Indian Railways, it represents the first locomotive in Indian Railways’ fleet exceeding the threshold of 10,000 horsepower, delivering a total power output of 12,000 hp—twice that of its predecessor, the WAG 9.
Its eight-axle configuration enhances operational efficiency while lowering energy use and maintenance expenses. Modeled after the Alstom Prima T8 platform, it is specifically designed to operate reliably under humid and dusty conditions as well as extreme temperatures ranging from to . The enlarged driver cabin offers improved comfort for extended journeys and features climate control systems including air conditioning, along with amenities such as food preparation and storage facilities and onboard toilets—a standard Indian Railways introduced in 2016.
Sophisticated technologies integrated into the locomotive include GPS and GPRS-enabled remote diagnostics and tracking systems, wireless multiple-unit operation, cruise control, autopilot functionality, and an event recorder.
WAG-12
The initial WAG-12 model was constrained by certain design limitations, which were addressed in the subsequent WAG-12B production variant. Only one unit of the original WAG-12 (numbered 60001) was manufactured before being upgraded to meet WAG-12B standards.
WAG-12B
The WAG-12B serves as the current production variant with plans exceeding 800 units. Significant enhancements over the original WAG-12 prototype include:
| Specification | WAG-12 | WAG-12B |
|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 35,000 mm | 38,400 mm |
| Bogie frame design | Flat solebar | Gooseneck or handlebar-shaped solebar |
| Traction link coupling location | Positioned below the driver’s cab | Relocated to the center of the locomotive body |
| Distance between bogie centers | 8,500 mm | 10,200 mm |
Locomotive depots
| Zone | Location | Shed Code | Number of Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Railway | Nagpur | NEDA | 250 |
| Northern Railway | Saharanpur | MELS | 250 |
| Western Railway | Sabarmati | SBTD | 40 |
| Total locomotives as of August 2025 | 540 | ||
Accidents
On 16 February 2023, a head-on collision occurred between WAG-12B #60038 (based at Saharanpur) and WDG-4 70159 near Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Both trains stayed on the tracks and no injuries were reported.
On 2 June 2024, WAG-12B #60059, also assigned to Saharanpur, was involved in an accident close to Sirhind Junction, Punjab. A stationary train was hit by a goods train that had passed a signal on the Dedicated Freight Corridor. Two locomotive drivers were injured in this incident.
See also
External links
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