Indian Railways and Wabtec partner to export locomotives globally

For the first time, the Marhowra plant in Bihar will produce locomotives for export to international clients, with deliveries set to begin in 2025. “This project is of strategic importance as it positions India as a global locomotive manufacturing hub and aligns with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’ initiatives under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It will also enable the Marhowra plant to export standard-gauge locomotives worldwide, expanding the local supplier footprint and fostering long-term job creation, thereby benefiting the Indian economy,” stated the release.

The collaboration between the Ministry of Railways and Wabtec has established the Marhowra facility as a key global manufacturing center, leveraging a strong local supplier base across India. Indian Railways currently operates a fleet of around 650 newly  constructed locomotives from this partnership. Moving forward, Wabtec and the Ministry of Railways will continue to enhance the plant’s capacity and competitiveness to support sustainable export manufacturing.

Established in 2018, the Marhowra facility spans 70 acres and was designed to produce 1,000 state-of-the-art locomotives for Indian Railways. Employing around 600 people, the plant supplies Indian Railways with an average of 100 locomotives annually and has significantly contributed to the industrial growth of the region.