Titagarh Rail Systems targets full Indigenous Aluminium Coach Manufacturing by FY2027

Kolkata, India (Metro Rail Today): Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) has announced plans to achieve complete self-reliance in the manufacturing of aluminium railway coaches by FY27, marking a significant milestone in India's railway manufacturing journey and the government's broader Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The Uttarpara-based rolling stock manufacturer, which has already supplied aluminium coaches for the Pune Metro Rail Project, has further strengthened its position in the segment by securing an additional order for the manufacture of 12 aluminium trainsets. The company now aims to localise the entire aluminium coach production process, from raw material processing and extrusion to final assembly, within India.

Speaking about the development, Umesh Chowdhary, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, stated that the company has made substantial investments in advanced manufacturing infrastructure to eliminate dependence on imported aluminium coach sub-assemblies.

Until recently, Titagarh imported flat packs and sub-assemblies for aluminium coaches from its technology partner, Italy-based Firema. However, the company has now installed specialised machinery required for manufacturing these components domestically.

“Earlier, we were importing the flat packs or the subassemblies for these aluminium coaches from Firema from Italy. But now in the last year, we have imported all the machines that are required for making those flat packs within the country. So within this year and the coming year, that is FY27 and beginning of FY28, we will be fully Atmanirbhar or self-sufficient to make aluminium coaches from raw material or from extrusion onwards,” said Chowdhary.

The move is expected to position Titagarh among a select group of global manufacturers with end-to-end capabilities in both aluminium and stainless-steel coach production, significantly enhancing India's indigenous rolling stock ecosystem.

Strategic Push Towards High-Speed Rail

Beyond metro and conventional passenger coaches, Titagarh sees aluminium manufacturing capabilities as a gateway to India's future high-speed rail ambitions. Aluminium has become the preferred material for modern high-speed trains worldwide due to its lighter weight, superior energy efficiency, corrosion resistance and improved operational performance.

Chowdhary highlighted that the company's growing expertise could enable it to participate in upcoming high-speed rail projects planned across the country.

“That will make us fully integrated manufacturers of both aluminium and stainless steel coaches. By the way, world over, high-speed trains are also made in aluminium. That also opens up our opportunity, and that is going to be something that we will definitely be working towards—to be fully prepared and ready to take on the next challenge for Indian infrastructure, which is high-speed trains,” he added.

The announcement comes at a time when India is rapidly expanding its high-speed and semi-high-speed rail ecosystem. The government is currently implementing the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, while multiple future high-speed corridors are under various stages of planning and feasibility assessment.

Aluminium Coaches and the Vande Bharat Programme

The development also aligns with Indian Railways' long-term vision of adopting lightweight aluminium coach technology for future trainsets. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha in March 2022, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had stated that Indian Railways intended to procure 400 next-generation Vande Bharat trainsets, with aluminium-body coaches being considered to improve energy efficiency and passenger comfort.

The shift towards aluminium construction offers several operational advantages, including reduced energy consumption, lower lifecycle maintenance costs, increased speed potential and enhanced passenger safety.

As India seeks to establish itself as a global railway manufacturing hub, the localisation of aluminium coach production could significantly reduce import dependence while creating opportunities for domestic suppliers, component manufacturers and engineering firms.

Strengthening India's Rail Manufacturing Ecosystem

Titagarh's investment in aluminium coach manufacturing reflects the broader transformation taking place across India's railway sector, where indigenous manufacturing capabilities are increasingly being developed for rolling stock, signalling systems, propulsion technologies and high-speed rail components.

Commenting on the significance of the development, Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO, Urban Infra Group, said:

“The localisation of aluminium coach manufacturing represents a major advancement for India's railway industry. As the country expands its metro, regional rail and high-speed rail networks, indigenous manufacturing capabilities will be critical in enhancing competitiveness, reducing import dependence and supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Companies like Titagarh are playing an important role in building a robust and future-ready rail manufacturing ecosystem.”

With India targeting greater self-reliance in advanced transportation technologies, Titagarh's move towards fully indigenous aluminium coach production could emerge as a key enabler for the next generation of metro, regional and high-speed rail projects across the country.