Indian Railways Faces Locomotive Shortage, Slower Freight Engines Impacting Passenger Train Operations
Indian Railways is facing a significant shortage of locomotives for passenger services, leading to the deployment of freight engines on passenger trains. This situation has resulted in delays of several hours for many services, as records indicate that slower freight locomotives are being used due to the unavailability of appropriate passenger engines. The Railway Ministry is responding by ramping up locomotive production, with plans to introduce 679 new passenger locomotives over the next two financial years.
Production Plans Underway
The Railway Ministry has approved the production of 492 passenger locomotives for the 2026-27 fiscal year and an additional 187 for 2027-28. This includes 326 WAP-7 locomotives and 166 WAP-4 locomotives. A senior official from the Ministry stated that there is a rapid adoption of modern trainsets and improvements in the utilization of existing assets. The official emphasized that train operations have expanded significantly over the past 12 years, and efforts are being made to ensure safe and comfortable journeys for passengers.
Operational Delays
Railway records reveal that the shortage of passenger locomotives has led to numerous instances where freight engines are used instead. Officials report an average of 80 to 100 such incidents monthly across various railway zones. A notable example occurred on September 3, 2026, when the Ballia-Dadar Central Express was delayed by 5 hours and 28 minutes due to the unavailability of a passenger locomotive. The train, originally scheduled to operate with a WAP-4 engine capable of speeds over 130 kmph, was instead pulled by a freight locomotive limited to 100 kmph.
Fleet Composition
As of September 2026, Indian Railways operates approximately 17,900 locomotives, with around 13,700 being electric and about 4,200 diesel. Among the electric locomotives, approximately 3,400 are designated for passenger services, while the majority of diesel engines are used for freight and other operational tasks. The fleet has grown from 10,456 engines in 2013-14, reflecting a shift towards electric locomotion since 2014, which has slowed diesel production.
Instances of freight locomotives being assigned to passenger trains have been reported across nearly all railway zones. On September 21, 2026, two passenger trains were noted to be operating with WAG-9 freight locomotives, which can only reach a maximum speed of 100 kmph. In one case, the Kanpur Central-Prayagraj Sangam InterCity Express was delayed by at least 30 minutes due to this substitution.
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