Lok Sabha Question No. 4225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Manufacturing of Train Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4225 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## MANUFACTURING OF TRAIN COACHES

## 4225. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the total number of railway coaches manufactured in the country during the last five years, year and manufacturing unit-wise;
- (b) the details of the public sector units and private companies authorised/sanctioned  to  manufacture  railway  coaches  in  the  country particularly for Andhra Pradesh, State/UT and location-wise;
- (c) the details of the funds allocated, sanctioned, released and utilised for setting up, expansion and modernisation of railway coach manufacturing  facilities  during  the  last  five  years  particularly  for Andhra Pradesh, year and State-wise; and
- (d)  whether  any  skill  development  and  training  initiatives  have  been undertaken to create a skilled workforce for railway coach manufacturing  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (d)  Presently,  coaches  are  being  manufactured  in  Indian  Railways' three operational coach manufacturing units viz. Integral Coach Factory/Chennai, Rail Coach Factory/Kapurthala and Modern Coach Factory/Rae  bareli. These  units  are  manufacturing  a wide  range  of passenger  rolling  stock  including  mainline  LHB  coaches,  train  sets  like Vande  Bharat,  Namo  Bharat,  Rapid  and  Regional  Metro  rakes,  Kolkata Metro Rakes, Amrit Bharat trains etc.

Apart from  Railway's  own  units,  presently  Public  Sector  Units  like  BEML are also engaged in manufacture of Vande Bharat Sleeper & LHB General/ Sleeper class coaches etc. Similarly, Vande Bharat Sleeper Trainsets are also being manufactured by the technology partners for Indian Railways.

During  last  five  years  i.e  2020-21  to  2024-25,  31414  coaches  have  been manufactured in various coach manufacturing units of the country including BEML. This includes LHB coaches which forms the major portion of coach population.

Production of LHB coaches during the period 2014-25 vis-à-vis 2004-14 is as under:

| Period   | LHB coaches manufactured         |
|----------|----------------------------------|
| 2004-14  | 2,337 nos.                       |
| 2014-25  | 42,677 nos. (more than 18 times) |

Setting  up  cost  of  coach  manufacturing  units  varies  depending  upon factors  such  as  location,  type  of  coaches  proposed  to  be  manufactured, planned production capacity, and the machinery and plant to be installed. Expenditure on the development of a coach manufacturing units is incurred over  extended  periods  and  across  multiple  phases  covering  the  initial setting up of the units as well as subsequent up gradation and augmentation  of  the  facilities  from time to time. For example,  the expenditure  incurred  on  the  setting  up  of  the  latest  operational  coach manufacturing unit- Modern Coach Factory, Rae bareli is Rs. 3,042.83 crore.

Further, Rs. 2443 Cr has been sanctioned for various projects related to the upgradation/  augmentation  of  the  three  operational  coach  manufacturing units viz. Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and Modern Coach Factory, Raebareli over a period of time.

Establishment of new manufacturing unit at Kazipet has also been taken up at  a  cost  of  Rs.  521.36  Crs  wherein  manufacture  of  Mainline  Electric Multiple Units (MEMU) rakes has been planned.

As  regards  skill  development,  Indian  Railways  have  a  comprehensive training ecosystem which provides for different sets of training interventions at various stages of career to ensure skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling of Railway Employees. To make  this possible, elaborate infrastructure  has  been  developed  by  the  Indian  Railways  in  form  of training centres across Zonal Railways and Production Units.

Detailed  training  modules  as  per  prescribed  periodicity  are  available  for respective categories at initial and promotional stages along with refresher courses  as  well  as  specialized  training  courses,  laying  emphasis  on practical  aspects  which  help  the  employees  in  skill  upgradation  and assimilation  with  related  advanced  technology.  These  modules  are  also updated keeping in view the technological changes in working practice.

Further, with a view to ensure structured and systematic training on coach manufacturing, concerned employees are provided training as per detailed training  modules  which  cover  various  aspects  relevant  to  that  field.  The modules  include  exposure  to  fabrication  techniques,  welding  processes, bogie systems, electrical etc. required for coach production.

Besides, Indian Railways also conducts Apprenticeship Training Programme  at  its  various  units  like  Production  Units,  Workshops,  Loco Sheds, Carriage and Wagon Depots etc under the provisions of Apprentices Act,  1961,  which  also  contributes  to  skill  development  in  trades  such  as fitter, welder, electrician and machinist.

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