Indian Railways to get first aluminium coaches by early 2022; why it’s significant

Indian Railways is likely to get its first batch of aluminium bodied coaches by February 2022. In a technological shift for railways, the Modern Coach Factory (MCF) in Raebareli is looking to manufacture aluminium coaches.

The first set of 3 coaches for Kolkata Metro are expected to be ready by early next year, a railway official told TOI. Eventually, Indian Railways hopes to get aluminium coaches for Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express style premium trains.

MCF has signed a Rs 128 crore contract with South Korean firm Dawonsys for this ambitious project. The execution of the project has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic hitting both India and South Korea. The design for the metro coaches will likely be finalised by the end of this month. “The South Korean firm will share the designs and once MCF approves they will be made in South Korea and brought in India in knocked down condition,” the railway official told TOI.

“To begin with they (Dawonsys) will manufacture these coaches in South Korea and slowly the transfer of technology will take place to MCF,” the official added.