Indian Railways rolls out waterless urinals for pilots of India’s most powerful locomotives

Indian Railways is set to install waterless urinals in the country's most powerful locomotives to address operational challenges faced by loco pilots, including the addition of female pilots. The 12,000-horsepower locomotives, manufactured in Madhepura, Bihar, will come equipped with these innovative facilities. Discussions with the Railways are in advanced stages, according to a senior official from Madhepura Electric Locomotive Private Limited (MELPL), a joint venture between Indian Railways and Alstom.

MELPL has already installed a prototype waterless urinal, which has been operational for about four months. The company's Managing Director, Vivek Garg, stated that the original design of the locomotive did not include a space for a urinal, but discussions with Indian Railways have led to the decision to integrate waterless urinals in all of their locomotives.

The new locomotives, which have a design speed of 120 kmph and can haul 6,000 tonnes of freight, were first introduced in 2020 and are now being retrofitted with the new facilities. Garg noted that integrating a waterless urinal poses challenges such as safety and the need for water supply and design modifications, which are evolving as technology advances.

The initiative aligns with India Railways' goal to gradually introduce waterless urinals in all electric locomotives as feasibility allows.