Bengaluru's suburban rail to have Metro-like AC coaches

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), based in Chennai, is set to supply air-conditioned coaches for the Bengaluru suburban rail project. ICF recently called for design proposals for these coaches, which will resemble metro trains but are not the same as Vande Metro coaches. The plans are designed to cater to the needs of Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises (K-RIDE), which is overseeing the project. These new coaches will be made of stainless steel and measure 21.7 meters in length. They will be designed for a safe operational speed of 85 km/h and an axle load of 17 tonnes. The interiors will feature comfortable seating, lighting, and accessibility options. Each six-coach train will hold up to 1,052 passengers. K-RIDE aims to start operations by December 2026. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently visited Bengaluru to discuss this timeline. He indicated that ICF should expedite the supply of coaches. Two specific corridors are set to begin service: Corridor C2 will open by the end of 2026, while Corridor 4 is expected to start a year earlier. The initial phase aims to acquire a total of 153 coaches, with plans for 51 three-coach trains. However, design and production timelines might push actual delivery to late 2028. K-RIDE plans to bypass the typical tender process, which will require state government approval for an exemption under local procurement laws. Last year, the Karnataka cabinet allocated Rs 2,135 crore for purchasing 306 coaches for the project, with the total expected cost around Rs 4,300 crore. The state's contribution covers half the expenses, while the remaining is funded by the Union government. Originally, K-RIDE aimed to rent the coaches, but the lack of interest from companies forced a shift to direct purchases.