Russian Transmashholding is contracted to supply 120 passenger electric trains totaling 1,920 cars to India in a deal valued at more than 1.7 billion dollars. The information comes from Vedomosti, which cited the press service of the construction division of Indian Railways Ministry, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited RVNL. RVNL is a subsidiary of Indian Railways, the national rail carrier, and plays a key role in project management for major rail procurements in India.
A Russian Indian consortium, with Transmashholding as a major member, secured the tender to deliver these wagon sets to India. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited holds a 25 percent stake in the consortium, while Transmashholding owns the remaining 75 percent through its subsidiaries Metrovagonmash and Locomotive Electronic Systems. Metrovagonmash contributes 70 percent of the stake and Locomotive Electronic Systems 5 percent.
Contracts are expected to be signed soon, although an exact date was not disclosed. Tender documents indicate that production will be organized at facilities in Latura and at Indian Railways factories in Chennai, India. The winning bidder is also responsible for upgrading the production lines and storage capacities to meet project demands. Additionally, the arrangement includes a long term maintenance plan for the wagons spanning thirty five years, ensuring ongoing reliability and serviceability for the railway system.
In related energy sector developments this week, Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, participated in the concluding meeting of the Ministry of Energy college. The exchange highlighted a broader energy relationship between the two countries, with Russian oil exports to India reported to have increased notably in 2022. The recent discussions underscore a pattern of intensified cooperation across heavy industry sectors, including rail manufacturing and energy supply channels.
Industry observers note that the rail procurement aligns with India’s objective to modernize its passenger rail fleet, improve operational efficiency, and expand electrified services across the national network. The project also illustrates a strategic collaboration between Russian engineering capabilities and Indian infrastructure programs, potentially positioning both parties to capitalize on growing regional demand for high-capacity, energy efficient passenger trains. Stakeholders emphasize that successful execution will depend on timely transfer of technology, effective scaling of production facilities, and robust after sales support to sustain long term performance and reliability. The program signals broader signals of sustained bilateral engagement in transport modernization and energy cooperation, with potential downstream effects on employment, local supplier development, and regional supply chains.