India emerges as global rail export hub: Railway Minister

New Delhi, Jul 27: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday praised India’s growing stature as a global exporter of rail systems during his visit to Alstom’s Savli facility in Gujarat. The plant, a key contributor to India’s railway exports, has shipped metro coaches, bogies, and propulsion systems to over a dozen countries, reflecting the success of the government’s Make in India and Make for the World vision. The Minister noted that India’s rail manufacturing sector is increasingly aligned with global standards, citing exports of over 1,000 rail cars since 2016, including 450 manufactured at Savli for Australia’s Queensland Metro project.

The Savli unit has also exported more than 3,800 bogies to countries such as Germany, Egypt, and Brazil, along with over 4,000 flatpacks to Austria. The nearby Maneja unit has delivered over 5,000 propulsion systems to international clients.

“Indian engineers and workers are now creating world-class products for global markets, and this is generating both jobs and expertise at home,” Vaishnaw said, addressing the media. He called it a “clear success” of the Make in India mission.

India is currently leading 27 international signalling projects and supporting 40 more, driven by advanced technologies from Bengaluru’s Digital Experience Centre, including AI, IoT, blockchain, and cybersecurity.

The export portfolio includes:

Metro Coaches to Australia and Canada

Bogies to the UK, Saudi Arabia, France, and Australia

Propulsion Systems to France, Germany, Mexico, Romania, Spain, and Italy

Passenger Coaches to Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka

Locomotives to Mozambique, Senegal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the Republic of Guinea

A local supplier network around Savli, featuring companies such as Integra, Anovi, Hind Rectifier, Hitachi Energy, and ABB, is also fueling this export growth, supporting fabrication, interiors, and electrical systems. Vaishnaw emphasised that the “design, develop, and deliver from India to the world” vision is now a lived reality for Indian Railways.