Delays of several hours: Passenger trains using slower freight locos amid shortage
Indian Railways records contain several instances in which a lack of locomotives designed for passenger services led to trains being hauled by freight engines, which operate at lower speeds. The use of these locomotives has affected running times and caused operational delays, the records show. The Railway Ministry, however, said it was accelerating efforts to expand locomotive production.
Indian Railways is facing a shortage of locomotives meant for passenger services, leading to passenger trains being hauled by slower freight locos and causing significant delays of several hours, according to railway records. The Railway Ministry has approved 492 passenger locomotives for 2026-27 and another 187 for 2027-28, bringing the total to 679 over the two financial years.
However, the expansion of locomotive production and the adoption of modern trainsets have not yet been able to fully address the shortage, resulting in an average of 80 to 100 incidents per month where freight locomotives are deployed on passenger services. For example, Train No. 11044, the Ballia-Dadar Central Express, was delayed for 5 hours and 28 minutes on September 3, 2026, because a passenger locomotive was unavailable.
The train was scheduled to operate with a WAP-4 passenger locomotive, but a freight locomotive certified for speeds of up to 100 kmph was used instead. The use of slower freight locomotives has affected train running times and operational punctuality across various railway zones in the country.
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