WAG - 12 Electric traction locomotive is the most powerful electric loco made in India. Here are the full details you must know about it -
- Ministry of Railway signed a contract with Alstom in November 2015 to develop and supply electric locomotives.
- This project is the first Foreign Direct Investment in Indian rail sector.
- Under this joint venture, Indian Railways shares 26%.
- The contract allows import of first 5 locomotives while rest 795 are to be manufactured in India with local support.
- Scheduled delivery period is from 2018 to 2028.
- The ₹300-crore project also includes 2- maintenance depots at Nagpur, Maharashtra and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh and a manufacturing plant at Madhepura.
- WAG - 12 locomotives will form a part of Alstom Prima family.
- Alstom Prima family locomotives are supplied in Kazakhastan.
- WAG – 12 is capable of producing 12,000 horsepower.
- WAG - 12 can haul 6000 tonnes with a maximum speed of 120kmph.
- WAG - 12 will be used on Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and will run at 100 kmph.
- These locomotives will increase efficiency of freight trains drastically and will bump up average speed from 25-30 kmph to 50 - 60 kmph.
- WAG - 12 will be equipped with Knorr-Bremse braking systems and ABB transformers.
- The first bodyshell of WAG-12 was unloaded at Haldia on September 20 comprising of two sections.
- Development cost of one Locomotive is around Rupees 30 crore.
- The target is to make 35 locomotives operational by 2020, 60 by 2021 and 100 every next year till 800 engine contract is accomplished.
- To minimize maintenance cost and energy consumption; WAG – 12 will be equipped with 8 – axle design
- WAG – 12 can easily withstand adverse weather conditions with an operating temperature range from –50 degree Celsius to 50 degree Celsius.
- WAG –12 will be equipped with automatic climate control air conditioner.
- WAG – 12 loco also comes with a toilet and food preparation system
- WAG – 12 consists of two identical sections each of which rests on 2 axled bogies.
