Railways Approve Two 220 kmph Trainsets for 2027-28

14 Apr 2026 CW Team

The Ministry of Railways has approved the manufacture of two new trainsets with a design speed of 220 kmph, marking the next phase of semi-high-speed rollout. The Railway Board has authorised the inclusion of two 16-coach trainsets under the Coach Production Programme for 2027-28, with production assigned to the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. The move follows the deployment of Vande Bharat as the current fastest train with a design speed of 180 kmph and an expanding fleet of services.

Each trainset will be built as a broad gauge rake with a steel body and a maximum operating speed set at 200 kmph. The specification aims to balance higher design speed with practical operating limits on the current network. The two trainsets will offer uniform coach composition across 16 coaches per rake and are planned as part of efforts to scale up domestic trainset manufacturing capacity.

In October 2024, the Integral Coach Factory awarded a contract for high-speed trainset design and manufacture to Bharat Earth Movers Limited. The contract terms set the price of each car at Rs 278.6 million (mn) per car and the total contract value at Rs 8.6687 billion (bn). The contract includes design cost, one-time development charges, tooling and testing facilities.

Coach production will be spread across existing manufacturing units including the Integral Coach Factory, Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala and Modern Coach Factory at Raebareli, which already produce mainline LHB coaches and various trainsets. Officials expect the 16-coach rakes to be manufactured under the Coach Production Programme in 2027-28 and to integrate with ongoing fleet modernisation and regional connectivity plans. The initiative is presented as a scaling step in high-speed train capability for Indian Railways.

Real Estate

08 May 2026

Integrated Waterproofing Strategies

Waterproofing buildings used to be an annual pre-monsoon affair but the evolution of real-estate development has changed that approach. In new developments, developers are weaving waterproofing solutions into both the design and construction phases, an approach that Nikhil Madan, Managing Director, Mahima Group, says, “is all about ensuring lasting durability [of the building] and keeping lifecycle risks including water seepage and extensive maintenance to a minimum.”Watertight by designAluminium formwork systems aren’t commonly thought of as a waterproofing tool but at the Mahima Group,..

GROHE Showcases Water-Led Design At Milan

GROHE unveiled its GROHE SPA Aqua Sanctuary at Milan Design Week 2026, transforming Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato into an immersive showcase of water, design and wellbeing. Built on the philosophy of ‘Wellbeing Through Water’, the installation reimagined bathrooms as holistic spaces for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-care.The Aqua Sanctuary was presented through three interconnected sanctums. The first showcased the 3D-printed GROHE SPA AquaTree shower and faucet, highlighting bespoke innovation and biophilic design. The second featured the Atrio Private Collection and GROHE SPA x Buster..

Rahee Group Expands Rail Manufacturing Capacity

Rahee Group has outlined a multi-year investment roadmap to expand its operational footprint and strengthen manufacturing capabilities for India’s growing railway and urban transit sector. The Group is expanding in Odisha with a new Track Component Casting Unit, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8 April 2026 in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.The Group’s flagship EPC arm, Rahee Infratech Ltd, continues to focus on complex rail infrastructure projects, including track systems, bridges, viaducts and ballastless infrastructure. Its wholly owned subsidi..