Patna: A significant development in India’s railway modernization has emerged from a lesser-known region of Bihar. The 12,000-horsepower electric locomotive manufactured at the Madhepura factory—ranked among the most powerful globally—has commenced passenger service for the first time, indicating a major advancement in the country’s rail capabilities. This locomotive, created under the government’s Make in India initiative in collaboration with French company Alstom, started operating the Rajya Rani Express along the Saharsa–Samastipur–Patna route this month. Railway officials indicate that this engine class will soon be utilized on elite long-distance trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and Sampoorna Kranti.
The Madhepura Electric Locomotive Factory, which was inaugurated by Narendra Modi in 2018 following its construction that began in 2015, was envisioned as a pillar of India’s technological independence. Until recently, the 12,000 HP locomotives manufactured at this facility were solely employed for freight transport, capable of carrying 6,000-tonne loads at speeds of 100 km/h on the Dedicated Freight Corridor. Following technical enhancements and successful trials, these engines have now received certification for passenger services. They boast a maximum speed of 120 km/h and feature an advanced three-phase propulsion system designed to boost energy efficiency, which is expected to improve train punctuality, hauling capacity, and environmental performance.
Railway engineers have characterized this development as “transformational,” asserting that a locomotive engineered for heavy freight and steep gradients now powering express trains signifies a significant leap in domestic capability. The factory has the capacity to produce approximately 100 locomotives per year and is already impacting the design standards at other manufacturing sites like the Banaras Locomotive Works. Experts believe that the Madhepura model is poised to enter international markets, with Alstom preparing to leverage the Indian experience overseas. For Madhepura, a town historically linked with underdevelopment, the factory has emerged as a beacon of potential. For the railways, it demonstrates that high-level engineering—once reliant on imports—can now be conceived, constructed, and deployed within India.
