BEML gets Rs 867-cr order to make high-speed trains in Bengaluru

BEML will manufacture the train sets at its plant in Bengaluru

Bengaluru-based BEML Limited has received a contract for two high-speed train sets from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

On September 19, 2024, Moneycontrol had reported that BEML will manufacture the country's first high-speed train in Bengaluru.

"BEML Limited has been awarded a contract for the design, manufacturing, and commissioning of two high-speed trainsets, each comprising eight cars, by the ICF," said a release from BEML Limited on October 15.

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"The price of each car is Rs 27.86 crore, and the total contract value is Rs 866.87 crore, which includes design costs, one-time development costs, non-recurring charges, and one-time costs for jigs, fixtures, tooling, and testing facilities that will be utilized for all future high-speed projects in India," it said.

This project marks a milestone in India's high-speed rail journey, featuring the first indigenously designed and manufactured trainsets with a test speed of 280 kmph, the statement said.

The ICF floated a tender on September 5 for two chair-car high-speed trains. These stainless steel carbody trains will have a maximum speed of 280 kmph and an operational speed of 250 kmph. The deadline for bid submissions was September 19.

These trains will operate on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, which is being developed by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

The 508-km MAHSR will connect Mumbai with Ahmedabad through 12 stations at an estimated cost of Rs 1.1 lakh crore. Initially, Japanese Shinkansen E5 trains, capable of running at a maximum speed of 350 kmph, were planned to operate on the line with an operational speed of 320 kmph and an average speed of 250 kmph. However, due to the high prices quoted by Japanese firms, the Union Ministry of Railways decided to develop high-speed trains domestically.

Also, read: Indian Railways invites bids for development of trainset capable of running at 250 km/hr

The first train, with a design speed of 280 kmph and an operational speed of 250 kmph, is expected to roll out by December 2026, with trials set to take place on the Surat-Bilimora section of the MAHSR line.

The train will consist of seven cars with a standard 3+2 seating arrangement and one executive car with 2+2 seating. The total seating capacity is expected to be around 530. Depending on passenger demand, more cars could be added, extending the train to 12 or even 16 cars in the future. The trains will be built for standard gauge tracks, with an eye on export markets such as Southeast Asia and Africa, the source said.