Indian locomotive class WAG-00

WAG-00
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Siemens Mobility
Specifications Configuration: ​  •  UIC Co′Co′ Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) Electric system/s 25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead
Performance figures Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph) Power output: ​  • Starting 9,000 hp (6,711 kW)
Career Operators Indian Railway Disposition Under development

The Indian locomotive class WAG-00 is a class of AC electric locomotives that is being developed by Siemens for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Goods traffic (G). The name of the locomotive is yet to be confirmed. At 9000 HP it will be the second most powerful freight locomotive in the Indian Railways after WAG-12 along with WAG-9 HH. The first prototype is to be unveiled in March of 2025.

Introduction

The WAG-00 locomotive is a "Heavy Haul" freight locomotive, conceived in response to the growth in rail freight. The Indian railways being almost completely electrified had huge demand for powerful electric freight locomotive. To meet the demand, Indian railways had contracted rolling stock giants Siemens to manufacture 1200 locomotive. It will be manufactured in Dahod workshop under the Make in India initiative. It is Indian Railways first locomotive production unit in Gujarat. The 9,000 HP loco will be have a haulage capacity of 4,500 tonnes of load while the maximum speed of these locomotives will be up to 120 km per hour. ^[1]

Deliveries of the locomotives are planned over an eleven-year period, and the contract includes 35 years of full-service maintenance. Maintenance will be performed in four Indian Railways depots located in Vishakhapatnam, Raipur, Kharagpur and Pune. Locomotive assembly and maintenance will be implemented together with the staff of Indian Railways. The contract has a total value of Rs. 26,000 crore. ^[2]

The locomotives will feature artificial intelligence into the locomotives to predict failures before they happen to bring availability up. They will also be equipped with kavach (Automatic Train Protection System). It also features an improved monitoring and diagnostic platform, and an advanced continuous real-time tracking through GPS. ^[3]

Importance of the locomotive

Indian Railways has set an ambitious target to cut carbon emissions by more than 450-mn tonnes through optimum usage of Dedicated Freight Corridors vis-à-vis road transport. The 9000 HP locomotives, which will be integral to the efficient operation of the DFCs, are at the core of the Railways’ climate goals. With initiatives like 100% electrification, deployment of sustainable technologies and adoption of sustainable practices, the Railways will be key contributors to the country's net-zero transition. ^[4]

Driving this climate goal journey, will be the new generation of state-of-art, highly efficient and eco-friendly 9000 HP locomotives that will combine environmental protection with extreme cost-effectiveness using green technologies to set new standards in freight transport.

This locomotive will also help the Government to increase the share of railways in freight to 40-45% from the current 27%. ^[5]

References

1. "Siemens To Make Indias First 9000 HP Electric Loco For Indian Railways: Exclusive Interview". Zee News. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
2. Narayan, Subhash (16 January 2023). "Siemens signs ₹26,000 crore electric loco deal with Indian Railways". livemint .
3. "Siemens Mobility awarded a €3 billion project in India – large ..." press.siemens.com. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
4. "Siemens To Make Indias First 9000 HP Electric Loco For Indian Railways: Exclusive Interview". Zee News. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
5. "Siemens-Built Locomotives For Indian Railways". Railvolution. Retrieved 2025-02-24.