New Delhi, May 28: Indian Railways’ Kazipet rail manufacturing unit is nearing completion and is set to emerge as a major production hub for intercity trains aimed at strengthening short-distance connectivity and promoting greener transportation, the Ministry of Railways said on Thursday.
Under the initial rollout plan, the facility will manufacture 200 intercity trains over the next five years, significantly expanding railway capacity for regional travel.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu reviewed operationalisation plans for the Kazipet facility along with senior railway officials.
The trains produced at the unit will cater to short-distance intercity travel of around 300 km, with frequent stops designed to improve connectivity between nearby towns and urban centres.
According to the ministry, the services are intended to provide affordable and efficient transport options for a broad commuter base, including students, workers and passengers travelling for healthcare and daily needs.
Officials said the new trains are being designed as rail-based shuttle services, helping shift a substantial share of short-distance passenger traffic from roads to railways.
The proposed trainsets will feature modern passenger amenities and advanced engineering systems, including automatic door closing mechanisms, enhanced ventilation and a 20-coach configuration. Each coach will be equipped with two toilets positioned at both ends.
The trains will also include jerk-free couplers and advanced bogies and are being designed for operational speeds of up to 130 kmph.
A key sustainability feature will be the regenerative braking system, which enables energy generated during braking to be fed back into the power grid, improving energy efficiency and lowering carbon emissions compared with road-based transport.
The Railways Ministry said the deployment of such a large intercity fleet would boost India’s clean and green transportation capacity while supporting the broader transition toward sustainable mobility and rail-led regional connectivity.
