The Indian locomotive class WAG-00 is a class of 25 kV 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 April of 2025.[1]

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.

In January 2023, Indian Railways placed an order with Siemens Mobility for 1,200 freight locomotives, each with a power output of 9,000 horsepower (6,660 kW). This marks the largest locomotive order ever for Siemens Mobility and the biggest order in Siemens India's history. The contract is valued at approximately ₹26000 crore (approx. €3 billion), excluding taxes and potential price adjustments.[2]

Design

The 1,676 mm gauge Co'Co' locomotives, operating at 25 kV 50 Hz, are designed to pull 4,500-ton loads at speeds of up to 120 km/h. They will feature advanced propulsion systems, manufactured locally at Siemens Mobility facilities in India. To ensure maximum efficiency and reliability, Siemens Mobility will utilize its Railigent platform for optimal performance and availability.[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]

Manufacturing and Maintenance

The locomotives will be delivered over a span of eleven years, with the contract also covering full-service maintenance for 35 years.

Assembly will take place at the Indian Railways facility in Dahod, Gujarat, while maintenance will be carried out at four depots in Vishakhapatnam, Raipur, Kharagpur, and Pune. Both assembly and maintenance will be conducted in collaboration with Indian Railways personnel.[4]

Importance of the locomotive

Indian Railways aims to reduce carbon emissions by over 450 million tonnes by maximizing the use of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) instead of road transport. The 9000 HP locomotives will play a crucial role in ensuring the efficiency of these corridors and supporting the Railways' sustainability goals. With a focus on 100% electrification, adoption of green technologies, and sustainable practices, Indian Railways will be a key driver in the country’s transition to net-zero emissions.[4]

These next-generation, high-performance, and environmentally friendly 9000 HP locomotives will enhance both sustainability and cost efficiency, setting new benchmarks in freight transport through advanced green technology.

Additionally, this initiative will help increase the railways' share of freight transport from the current 27% to 40-45%, supporting the government's logistics expansion plans.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Indian Railways will get its most advanced and powerful engine in one month's time". Economic Times. March 2, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Siemens-Built Locomotives For Indian Railways". Railvolution. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  3. ^ "Siemens Mobility awarded a €3 billion project in India – large ..." press.siemens.com. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  4. ^ a b "Siemens To Make Indias First 9000 HP Electric Loco For Indian Railways: Exclusive Interview". Zee News. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_locomotive_class_WAG-00
No tags for this post.