Alstom was awarded a Rs 230bn ($US 3.54bn) contract in November 2015 to supply 800 1676mm-gauge Prima T8s, which are classified WAG-12 by Indian Railways. The contract included construction of the Madhepura plant under a 75:25 joint venture between Alstom and IR.

The first five locomotives will be delivered to IR by 2019, followed by another 35 units in 2020, 60 in 2021, and 100 every year thereafter.

The 120km/h WAG-12 has a continuous power output of 9MW and a starting tractive effort of 785kN.