New Delhi: The Kazipet Rail Manufacturing Unit of Indian Railways is nearing completion and is set to begin manufacturing a new fleet of intercity trains, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday. The minister along with Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, reviewed plans to operationalize the facility during a meeting with senior railway officials. The unit is being developed as a versatile rolling stock manufacturing hub and will initially produce 200 intercity trains over the next five years.
The new trains are designed to strengthen short-distance connectivity across the country. Operating on routes of around 300 kilometres, they will make frequent stops and serve as affordable shuttle services connecting neighboring towns and cities. The initiative is expected to benefit students, daily commuters, and people travelling for work, healthcare, and education.
According to the Railway Ministry the trains will feature modern passenger amenities, including automatic doors, improved ventilation systems, and enhanced safety features. Each train will have a 20-coach configuration, with two toilets in every coach.
The trains will also be equipped with advanced bogies and jerk-free couplers to ensure a smoother travel experience. Designed to operate at speeds of up to 130 kmph, they will offer efficient and comfortable regional travel.
A key feature of the new fleet is its regenerative braking technology, which converts braking energy into electricity and feeds it back into the power grid. This energy-efficient system will reduce carbon emissions and make rail travel a greener alternative to road transport.
The Railway Ministry believes that the large-scale introduction of these trains will significantly enhance India’s clean and sustainable transportation capacity while encouraging a shift of local passenger traffic from roads to railways.
