India is now the world leader in locomotive manufacture, surpassing both the US and Europe.

According to a statement released by the ministry of railways, India has become a global leader in the construction of railway locomotives, as it manufactured a record 1,681 locomotives in the fiscal year 2024–2025.

The statement went on to say that this milestone confirms India's increasing supremacy in the global railway industry by surpassing the combined locomotive production of regions including the US, Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia.

The milestone was reached by Indian Railways' locomotive manufacturing units, which produced 1,681 locomotives across multiple categories in 2024–2025. This represents a 19% increase of 209 locomotives above the 1,472 manufactured in 2023–2024.

This record-breaking production is the country's highest for locomotive manufacturing, and it reflects the significant achievements of all units in improving railway capacity and infrastructure.

The "Make in India" initiative has been strengthened by strategic initiatives, which have led to the ongoing increase in locomotive manufacture, the statement stated.

India produced 4,695 locomotives in total between 2004 and 2014, with an average of 470 each year nationwide.  According to the statement, locomotive manufacture had a notable uptick from 2014 to 2024, producing 9,168 units, increasing the yearly average to about 917.

Patiala Locomotive Works provided 304 locomotives, Madhepura and Marhowrah units produced 100 locomotives each, Banaras Locomotive Works produced 477, and Chittaranjan Locomotive Works produced 700 of the total locomotives built in 2024–25.

Locomotive production in the nation was mostly focused on freight trains. 100 WAG-12B locomotives, 100 WDG 4G/6G locomotives, 2 WAP-5 locomotives, 272 WAP-7 locomotives, 5 NRC locomotives, 148 WAG-9 Twin locomotives, 1047 WAG-9/9H locomotives, and 7 WAG-9HH locomotives were therefore included.