Full Steam Ahead! India’s Locomotive Production Touched 1,681 in 2024-25, Surpassing US, Europe
The government says that the continuous rise in locomotive production is a result of decisions taken to strengthen the 'Make in India' initiative
The production of railway locomotives, housing the engine of the train, in India reached 1,681 in the last financial year, 2024-25, helping the country surpass the total locomotive production of nations and continents, including the United States, Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia.
A spokesperson for the Railway Board told News18 that in 2023-24, India produced 1,472 locomotives.
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“The production of 1,681 locomotives in 2024-25 marks a 19% increase in production compared to the previous year," the spokesperson said.
A major share of the 1,681 locomotives was manufactured at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (700).
Banaras Locomotive Works produced 477, while Patiala Locomotive Works produced 304, and 100 locomotives each were manufactured in Madhepura and Marhowrah.
It is also important to note that the majority of the locomotives produced in the country were intended for freight trains.
WAG-9/9H locomotives formed the biggest share of the total locomotive production at 1,047. It is a three-phase AC electric locomotive used by Indian Railways for freight hauling.
The Indian Railways produced 100 units of WDG 4G/6G locomotives—dual-cabin freight-hauling diesel–electric locomotives. Another 100 units were of WAG-12B locomotives, also for freight trains.
Only about 280 of these locomotives were for passenger trains, the ministry data shows.
Last month, union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India has produced more locomotives than America and Europe combined in the financial year. However, the number he shared was 1,400 locomotives.
The numbers were issued from the ministry after the completion of the financial year on March 31.
Vaishnaw had said that soon, India will export locomotives manufactured at the Madhepura factory in Bihar.
Currently, Indian Railways’ passenger coaches are being exported to Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, while locomotives are being sent to Mozambique, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
Apart from this, bogie underframes are being exported to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, France, and Australia, while propulsion parts are being sent to France, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Romania, and Italy, he had said.
The ministry said the continuous rise in locomotive production is a result of decisions taken to strengthen the “Make in India" initiative.
Between 2004 and 2014, a total of 4,695 locomotives were produced in the country, with a national annual average of 470.
“In contrast, from 2014 to 2024, India manufactured 9,168 railway locomotives, raising the annual average to approximately 917," the ministry added.
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