360 km/h in 'Ivolga FG'; Russian high-speed trains all set to revolutionise Indian railway sector

NEW DELHI: State-of-the-art Russian high-speed trains are set to usher in revolutionary changes in the Indian railway sector. Transmashholding (TMH), a leading Russian railway manufacturing company, expressed interest in the joint manufacturing of the 'Ivolga FG' high-speed train—capable of speeds up to 360 km/h—in India. With this move, Russia intends to further expand its existing partnership with India.

Through this initiative, the company aims to undertake joint research and development in high-speed railway technology by leveraging Russian engineering and scientific expertise. The Russian company is already operating in India through 'Kinet Railway Solutions,' a joint venture formed by TMH and RVNL for the manufacturing of Vande Bharat sleeper trains.

Work is currently underway at the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur, Maharashtra, to manufacture 120 Vande Bharat sleeper trains, each comprising 16 coaches. The first Vande Bharat sleeper prototype under this project is expected to be rolled out by March 2027. Leveraging its strong manufacturing presence and partnerships in India, Russia has come forward with a proposal for this entirely different high-speed train project, in addition to the Vande Bharat initiatives.