India has exported the first four heavy-haul locomotives manufactured at the Marhowrah Diesel Locomotive Factory in Bihar to Guinea. The units were shipped from Mundra Port aboard the vessel MV BBC Washington in September 2025.
The locomotives are part of an order for about 150 Evolution Series ES43ACmi diesel units placed by Simfer, a joint venture led by Rio Tinto, to support the Simandou iron-ore railway project. The overall deal is valued at approximately INR 30 billion (approximately USD 345.9 million) and is scheduled to be completed over three years.
Each locomotive has a power rating of 4,500 HP and features AC propulsion and fuel-efficiency optimizations suited for heavy-haul operations in West African conditions. The cab is designed with air-conditioning and other comfort features for the operating crew. Future deliveries are planned in phases over the next three years as the Simandou railway line is developed to carry iron-ore exports from Guinea.
The Marhowrah Diesel Locomotive Factory, located in Marhaura in Bihar’s Saran district, is a joint venture between Indian Railways and Wabtec, formerly GE Transportation. Commissioned in 2018, the facility was established to produce advanced diesel-electric freight locomotives for Indian Railways and international markets, making it the first factory in India to indigenously manufacture high-horsepower freight locomotives for both domestic use and export.
Spread over an area of 70 to 226 acres, the factory is situated about 81 kilometres from Patna and 18 kilometres from Chhapra Junction. It has an annual production capacity of around 100 locomotives and is equipped with special tracks that accommodate broad, standard and Cape gauge designs, enabling testing of units destined for global customers. Under the terms of the joint venture, Wabtec holds a 75 percent stake and Indian Railways 25 percent, with the agreement covering a ten-year supply of 1,000 locomotives and representing a cumulative investment of about USD 2.5 billion.
The plant manufactures locomotives from Wabtec’s Evolution Series platform, notably the 4,500 horsepower ES43ACmi, designated by Indian Railways as WDG-4G, and the 6,000 horsepower ES57ACi, known as WDG-6G. These models incorporate three-phase AC traction, IGBT technology, modular architecture, microprocessor-based controls, regenerative braking, and compliance with international emission standards. They also feature Distributed Power Wireless Control System (DPWCS) capability and are equipped with modern crew amenities, including air-conditioned cabs, ergonomic seating, refrigerators, microwaves, and waterless toilets.
Since its establishment, the Marhowrah facility has supplied around 650 locomotives to Indian Railways and, beginning in 2025, has also entered the global export market with an order of 150 units for Guinea to support the Simandou iron-ore railway project. The factory directly employs between 285 and 600 workers and indirectly supports more than 1,200 additional jobs locally, with a wider employment impact of about 2,100 across India through the joint venture. Alongside production, it has contributed to industrial development in Bihar and has become a key element in India’s growing rail manufacturing capability.
