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Indian locomotive class WAG-12

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WAG-12B
Saharanpur based WAG-12B #60051 at Samalkot.
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
DesignerAlstom, RDSO
BuilderELF Madhepura
ModelRDSO based design[1]
Build date2017 (2017)-present
Total produced476 as of December 2024
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B+B-B
 • UICBo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
 • CommonwealthBo-Bo+Bo-Bo
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) Broad Gauge
Wheel diameter1,250 mm (4 ft 1 in)
Wheelbase:​
 • Bogie2,600 mm (8 ft 6 in)
Pivot centres10,200 mm (33 ft 6 in)
Panto shoes9,000 mm (29 ft 6 in)
Length:
​
 • Over couplers38,400 mm (126 ft 0 in)
Width3,215 mm (10 ft 7 in)
Height:
​
 • Pantograph4,245 mm (13 ft 11 in)
Axle load22.5t (upgradable to 25t)
Loco weight180t (upgradable to 200t)
Electric system/s25 kV 50 Hz AC AC
Current pickup(s)Pantograph OHE
Traction motors6FRA-4576D, Asynchronous, Forced Cooled, Nose Suspended ​
 • Continuous1125 kW @ 1750 rpm
Gear ratio110:23
MU working2 units
Loco brakeAir, Regenerative[2]
Train brakesAir
CouplersCBC coupler, Buffers and chain coupler
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
(Upgradable to 120 Km/h)
Power output:
​
 • Continuous9,000 kW (12,000 hp)
Tractive effort:
​
 • Starting612 kN (137,583 lbf)
(Upgradable to 785 kN)
Brakeforce634.5 kN (142,641 lbf)
Career
OperatorsIndian Railways
Numbers60001+ onwards
LocaleIndia
Delivered11 October 2017
First run19 May 2020

The Indian locomotive class WAG-12B is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 2017 by Alstom with technological collaboration with Indian Railways. The model name stands for wide gauge (W), alternating current (A), goods traffic (G) locomotive-12. They entered trial service in 2019. A total of 450 WAG-12B have been built at Electric Locomotive Factory, Madhepura, Bihar, India.

With a power output of 12,000 hp, the WAG 12 is twice as powerful as its immediate predecessor, WAG-9, making it one of the most powerful freight locomotives in the world. The locomotive is being developed for deployment on the Dedicated Freight Corridors, where it will be used to haul freight trains weighing more than 6,000 tonnes (5,900 long tons; 6,600 short tons) at speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph) to 120 km/h (75 mph), doubling the average speed of freight trains in the sector.

History

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Origins

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WAG 12 locomotive details

The origins of WAG-12B can be traced back to 2006. When the Government of India approved the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) project and set up the DFCCIL to build it.[3] In order to run trains at maximum efficiency, even the most powerful locomotive of that era, the WAG-9 was found inadequate. Hence, it was decided to procure new, powerful locomotives for dedicated operations on the two DFCs in an manner unlike it was done until now, where locos were built at CLW by Indian Railways under technology transfer agreements.[4]

In June 2008, the Ministry of Railways invited bids from global firms to design and develop the locomotives. The initial deal was to set up a new electric locomotive factory at Madhepura, Bihar to build and maintain 660 high-horsepower locomotives in a joint venture where Indian Railways would hold a 26% stake and the bidder 74%. This would have been the first foreign direct investment in the fully state-owned railway sector of the country.[5]

This invitation received bids from General Electric, Alstom, Bombardier Transportation, Siemens Mobility, China CNR and CSR Corporation. The number of locomotives to be built was subsequently increased from 660 to 800.[3] The Research Design and Standards Organisation published a specification in June 2013,[6] detailing the capability requirements for an eight-axle locomotive intended to be used on Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC). It was not until November 2015, however, that Alstom was finally awarded the contract to build the locomotives.[7]

Development

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Development of the locomotive began after the Ministry of Railways and Alstom signed a contract worth ₹25,000 crore (equivalent to ₹380 billion or US$4.5 billion in 2023).[8][9] and created a joint venture for the project. The largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) project of Indian Railways, the first locomotive was initially expected to enter service on 28 February 2018.[10] Alstom announced that the new locomotive would be based on its highly successful Prima II model. Alstom calls it the Prima T8. This was the first time in 20 years that Indian Railways procured new locomotives.[11][12]

However, the locomotive was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Madhepura, Bihar on 10 April 2018.[13]

Production

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As development of the engines progressed, Alstom outsourced the task of producing traction transformers for the locomotives to Swedish-Swiss multinational corporation ABB in 2016. These all-weather transformers were to be produced in Vadodara, Gujarat.[14] In 2017, Alstom outsourced the task of developing, testing, and maintaining the brakes of the locomotives to German brake manufacturing firm Knorr-Bremse. These brakes were to be produced at Palwal in the Indian state of Haryana.[15] The couplers of the locomotive were designed and developed by French Railway company Faiveley Transport. Around 85-90% of the components will be procured from within India.[16]

The first body shell of the locomotive was delivered to the Haldia Port in West Bengal on 20 September 2017. It was then transferred to the Electric Locomotive Factory (Alstom Madhepura) for final assembly,[4] which began on 11 October 2017.[17][18] The first locomotive, numbered 60001, was tested in the Madhepura factory on 27 February 2018, one day before its initial launch date.[10][19]

Deliveries of the locomotives are planned from 2018 through 2028, with the first locomotive slated to enter service in 2018, and a total of five by 2019. This is to be followed by the assembly of 35 new locomotives in 2020, 60 in 2021, and 100 locomotives each year from 2022 until all 800 locomotives are delivered.[17]

Delivery schedule[16][20]
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 Total
5 35 60 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 800

Design

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They are three phase, twin-section electric freight locomotive consisting of two identical sections, each of which rests on two twin-axled Bo-Bo bogies. The locomotive is being jointly developed by Alstom and the Indian Railways, and is the first Indian Railways locomotive that has a power output greater than 10,000 horsepower. With a power output of 12,000 hp, it is twice as powerful as its immediate predecessor, WAG 9, and is one of the most powerful freight locomotives in the world.[16][2][21]

For super-high powered locomotives like the WAG-12, design specifications make it necessary that they have twin sections. For a locomotive to output 9 mega watts (12000 hp), it would be impossible to house all that equipment into a body the size of a standard locomotive. The traction motors necessary to produce such torque would not even fit onto the axles. More axles will be needed for optimum load distribution and pulling power. All this will make the locomotive incredibly long. Now, no railway vehicle on Indian Railways may be longer than 25 metres, else they won’t be able to negotiate turnouts. Since all the equipment caused the WAG-12 to be around 38 metres long, the solution as to add a vestibule at the middle, making it a twin section locomotive.[22]

The eight-axle design of the locomotive reportedly improves performance and minimises energy consumption and maintenance costs. The locomotive incorporates special features based on the Alstom Prima T8 for operations in humid or dusty environments and extreme temperatures ranging from −50 °C (−58 °F) to 50 °C (122 °F). The cabin of the locomotive is comparatively larger and offers better comfort for drivers, especially during long-distance operations. The locomotives can also be equipped with climate control systems such as air conditioners, food preparation and storage facilities, and even a toilet—a standard that Indian Railways introduced in 2016.[23]

It will also have state of the art systems, including GPS and GPRS-based remote diagnostics, tracking and systems monitoring, wireless control of multiple-unit locomotives, cruise control, autopilot, incident recorder or a “black box”, etc.[24]

Sub-classes

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WAG-12A

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It is the original version which was imported. Limitations of the original WAG-12 design resulted in modifications and the WAG-12B variant. Only one unit (60001) was made. This unit has been modified to WAG-12B specification.[25]

WAG-12B

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It is the current version in production. Differences with WAG-12A variant include:

Spec WAG-12A WAG-12B
Total length 35,000 mm 38,400 mm
Bogie design Flat solebar Gooseneck or handlebar shaped solebar
Traction link coupling between the bogie and body Below the driving cab Turned around and now provided in the middle of the body
Center to center distance between the bogies Lower (8,500 mm) Higher (10,200 mm)

Locomotive shed

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Zone Name Shed Code Quantity
Northern Railway Saharanpur MELS 250
Central Railway Nagpur NEDA 226
Total Locomotives Active as of December 2024[26] 476

Incidents & Accidents

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On the morning of June 2, 2024, MSN 60059, a Saharanpur based WAG-12 was involved in an accident. A goods train overshot a signal on the DFC corridor near Sirhand, Punjab, and hit another stationary goods train. 2 loco pilots were injured in the incident.[27][unreliable source?]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "RDSO develops world's most powerful loco". The Times of India. 1 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Alstom to manufacture 800 high HP electric locomotives in Madhepura". Economic Times. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b Verma, Ragini (3 September 2013). "Six firms vie for Bihar locomotive project". Livemint. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b "RDSO Develops Worlds most powerful Loco". 28 August 2022. The Times of India. 1 May 2020.
  5. ^ Sanjai, P. R. (8 July 2008). "Railways to buy 660 electric engines for €3.5 billion". Livemint. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Specification RDSO/2006/EL/SPEC/0044, Rev '13'" (PDF). dfccil.gov.in. June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  7. ^ Thakur, Raghav (11 November 2015). "Alstom wins Indian electric locomotive contract". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Alstom's first Prima electric locomotive delivered to Indian Railways begins operation". Alstom. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Railways inks pact with GE, Alstom for loco factories". The Hindu. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  10. ^ a b "First electric locomotive from Madhepura factory in Bihar to roll out on February 28". Hindustan Times. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Alstom to supply 800 electric locos to Indian Railways". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  12. ^ "WAG-12: Official Press Releases from Alstom and Indian Railways". RailPost.in - Indian Railways News & Analysis. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  13. ^ Team, BS Web (10 April 2018). "Modi launches India's most powerful electric locomotive in Bihar: 10 facts". Business Standard India. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Prima India locos to have ABB transformers". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Knorr-Bremse to supply brakes for Alstom's Indian locomotives". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  16. ^ a b c "Local sourcing to be major focus of Alstom's Madhepura e-loco factory". The Hindu Business Line. 20 November 2017. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Production starts at Indian electric locomotive factory". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  18. ^ "Indian Railways WAG 12". Financial Express.
  19. ^ "Alstom Prima locomotive for Indian Railways on test". Railway Gazette International. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  20. ^ "India gets first high-power electric locomotive for freight trains from France". Hindustan Times. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  21. ^ "India Gets Its First High Horse Power Locomotive From France". NDTV. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Alstom Prima T8 Heavy Freight Locomotives Specifications" (PDF). Alstom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  23. ^ Sood, Jyotika (6 May 2016). "After 163 years, Railways to put toilets in train engines". LiveMint. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  24. ^ "Faster, Fitter & French: 7 Things to Know About India's New High-Power Locomotives". The Better India. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  25. ^ WAG-12: Alstom's New 12,000 Hp Locomotive Enters Service On Indian Railways. See Specifications, New Features And More Inside - RailPost.in
  26. ^ "e-Locos".
  27. ^ "SRE/WAG-12B/60059". indiarailinfo.com.
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