Russian-Indian joint venture launches electric train manufacturing facility in India

A joint Russian-Indian venture has commenced operations at a new manufacturing facility for electric trains in India. This facility will be instrumental in fulfilling a contract worth up to ₹54,000 crore ($6.5 billion) for the production and maintenance of Vande Bharat electric trains on behalf of Indian Railways.

Transmashholding, the largest manufacturer of locomotives and rail equipment in Russia and one of the parties in the joint venture, emphasised the importance of high-quality rolling stock for a modern, reliable transport system. “The project we are launching here today will play a vital role in advancing the railway industry and, crucially, in deepening the friendship between our countries. We have a highly skilled international team and an ambitious goal, and today marks another important step towards achieving it,” said Alexandra Meluzova, the project leader assigned by Transmashholding.

The manufacturing site is located in Latur, Maharashtra, in central India. It will be equipped with a state-of-the-art assembly line and 8.6 kilometres of internal track for testing purposes. There are plans to launch an engineering centre and upgrade three service depots in different cities for subsequent equipment maintenance.

Vande Bharat electric trains are expected to provide a new level of comfort on long-distance routes and reduce average travel times. With a distributed power system, these trains will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h. They will be equipped with regenerative braking and onboard diagnostics systems, as well as additional sound insulation and automatic doors with touch control.

Source: TASS