Accelerating Indian Railways' Net Zero Target: Hindalco, Texmaco Forge Alliance To Make Aluminium Rail Wagons And Coaches

Hindalco Industries, the world's largest aluminium rolling and recycling company, and Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd have entered into a strategic alliance to develop and manufacture world-class aluminium rail wagons and coaches that will help Indian Railways achieve its emission goals and bolster operating efficiency.

According to the agreement, Hindalco, the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group will provide profiles, sheets and plates of its unique aluminium alloys, along with fabrication and welding expertise.

Whereas, Texmaco, will bring in technical expertise and be responsible for design, setting up the factory, production line and providing skilled workers.

Notably, Hindalco in October 2022 had launched in-house aluminium freight rake which is 180 tonne lighter and offers 19 per cent higher payload to tare weight ratio, resulting in less energy consumption with relatively negligible wear and tear.

Significance

Aluminium trains command a lion's share in the United States, Europe and Japan because of attributes such as sleek, aerodynamic designs and their ability to tilt at high speeds without going off the rails.

The silvery-white metal is also the preferred choice for metro trains worldwide for their durability and most importantly — passenger safety, as it has improved crashworthiness or superior crash absorption capability.

Under Indian Railways’ “Mission 3000 MT” the government is aiming to double the freight capacity to 3,000 million tonne (MT) by 2027 through augmentation of rolling stock, with the objective of achieving 45 per cent market share in freight.

As part of this, the Railways is actively seeking to improve wagon design, and inviting wagon manufacturers to contribute their own designs to enhance overall capacity and the life of railway assets.

Recognising these developments in the Railways, Hindalco and Texmaco together will establish a world-class manufacturing facility in India that can make high-quality aluminium wagons with a lesser carbon footprint.