Wabtec Corporation has dispatched its 700th locomotive from its manufacturing facility in Marhowra, Bihar. The milestone unit is a 4,500-horsepower diesel-electric locomotive, developed under a long-term manufacturing agreement with Indian Railways. The plant is producing locomotives as part of a 10-year contract signed in 2015 to deliver 1,000 Evolution Series locomotives.
The Marhowra facility, operational since 2018, spans 70 acres and employs around 600 people. It produces approximately 100 locomotives annually. The site has also expanded its operations to manufacture auxiliary components such as power units and radiators, which were previously imported.
Earlier this week, the facility hosted senior leadership from Rio Tinto, marking a significant step in the execution of what the company describes as its largest locomotive export order to date. Wabtec is set to supply Evolution Series ES43ACmi locomotives to support operations in the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, Africa. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2025.
Sujatha Narayan, Senior Vice President and India Region Leader at Wabtec, stated, “The team in India has executed brilliantly—every single locomotive in the project has been delivered on time. We’ve improved profitability, enhanced services, and built locomotives that stand out as among the best in the Indian fleet.”
Wabtec’s India operations began in the early 1990s as a joint venture. In 1996, the company acquired full ownership and expanded its product offerings and footprint, including the reconditioning of wheel chocks and manufacturing of draft gears. Today, Wabtec supplies components for over 18,000 coaches and locomotives in India, and is present across freight, transit, and digital rail solutions.
The company operates several facilities in India, including a transit component plant in Hosur and a newly inaugurated plant in Rohtak, Haryana. The Rohtak site was established with an investment of USD 18 million and currently manufactures brake systems and friction products for railcars and metro coaches.
Wabtec has also expanded its services division, operating maintenance sheds in Roza, Gandhidham, and Gooty, with another facility under development in eastern India. The Gooty shed, opened in 2024, serviced nearly 700 locomotives in its first year. The company reports extending the maintenance cycle for its locomotives from 45–60 days to 90–110 days.
The engineering and technology operations are anchored at the Wabtec India Technology & Engineering Center (WITEC) in Bengaluru. Opened in 2019, this facility supports product development, including hydrogen-based internal combustion engines and high-reach pantographs designed for India’s dedicated freight corridors.
According to Sandeep Selot, Managing Director and Vice President of Wabtec Freight Business, “We can helm large-scale modernization projects, carry out performance upgrades, supply parts, and enter long-term maintenance contracts. Our aim is also to bring in greater safety, efficiency and high reliability with digital solutions such as real-time monitoring and diagnostics.”
Wabtec currently employs about 3,000 people across India, sources over 60% of its components locally, and works with a supplier base of 4,000 vendors. The company has committed to continuing investment in domestic manufacturing and new technologies aimed at sustainability and digital transformation in rail transport.