International Railroad Discussion > Indians take their Passenger Trains Very Seriously

Only in India do you get a press release and a newspaper article about a train getting a specific new class of locomotive!

See: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/fuelefficient-locomotive-for-vaigai-express/article7406158.ece

Actually the WAP-7 Class is not that new either. It is just new on this particular train. These Co-Co units have been the workhorse for Express service on all sorts of prestigeous trains like the Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Duronto Express trains for many years now. They are often referred to as "White Stallions" recognizing their distinct livery that they also share with the WAP-5 class Bo-Bo units. Incidentally the base design of it comes from Bombardier, and is shared with the freight class WAG-9, but it has been modified a lot under license by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works to adapt it for use in passenger service, and is now manufactured by CLW.

 

Presumably electrification has been completed between Chennai and Madurai? When we rode the Vaigai Express to Chennai in 2010 we started the journey behind a DLW Alco powered WDM diesel, changing power en route.