Railway Production Units
Railway Production Units (PUs) – Indian Railways
Overview
Indian Railways manufactures its rolling stock (locomotives, coaches, wheels, etc.) in-house through six dedicated Production Units (PUs). These units are “factories of Indian Railways” and work under the control of the Railway Board’s Production Unit Directorate. Every unit has a unique product profile and capacity, making Indian Railways self-reliant in rolling-stock production.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Total Production Units | 6 (5 active + 1 upcoming) |
| 2. Oldest PU | Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) – 1950 |
| 3. Latest commissioned PU | Marathwada Rail Coach Factory (Latur) – 2021 (coach-shell) |
| 4. Only Electric-Loco PU | CLW, Chittaranjan (WB) |
| 5. Only Diesel-Loco PU | Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), DLW upgraded – Varanasi |
| 6. Largest Coach PU | Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai |
| 7. Rail-wheel PU | Rail Wheel Factory (RWF), Bengaluru (now RWF/YNK) |
| 8. Metro & LHB coach PU | Modern Coach Factory (MCF), Raebareli |
| 9. CLW annual capacity | ~300 electric locos (upgraded to 500+) |
| 10. ICF annual capacity | 1700+ conventional/LHB/Train-18 coaches |
| 11. RWF annual capacity | 1,00,000 wheels + 10,000 axles |
| 12. MCF commissioned year | 2018 (fully functional) |
| 13. Only PU in Karnataka | Rail Wheel Factory (Bengaluru) |
| 14. Only PU in Uttar Pradesh | MCF, Raebareli |
| 15. Export locos PU | BLW (diesel) & CLW (electric) to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mozambique |
| 16. First indigenous loco | CLW – WAM-1 (1950) |
| 17. First indigenous coach | ICF – 1955 |
| 18. Certification | All PUs ISO 9001 & 14001 certified |
| 19. Upcoming PU | Electric Loco Assembly & Component Unit, Dankuni (WB) – 2026 |
| 20. “Make in India” tag | 100 % indigenous design & manufacture |
Important Points
- CLW was set up with Swiss collaboration (SLM); hence nickname “Swiss Loco Works”.
- DLW (Diesel Locomotive Works) renamed BLW (Banaras Loco Works) in 2020 after electrification mission.
- ICF produced the 1st indigenous self-propelled train set “Train-18” (Vande Bharat Express).
- RWF is the only plant that forges wheels by universal acceptance (UA) technology; supplies to Metro, BEML, defence.
- MCF is the first green-field coach factory post-independence; produces only LHB & stainless-steel shells.
- All PUs are “Subsidiary Units of Railway Administration” (SURA) and have independent railway codes.
- PUs fall under “Mechanical” department of Indian Railways.
- Recruitment in PUs is done through RRCs (Railway Recruitment Cells) of respective zones.
- PUs follow “Production-cum-Profit” accounting; earnings booked under “Railway Production Revenue”.
- CLW & BLW have been tasked to stop new diesel loco production by 2025; focus on dual-mode & electric.
- ICF holds Guinness record for largest passenger-coach manufacturer in the world (2018-19).
- RWF wheels are exported to 30+ countries; first consignment to Germany in 2022.
- MCF has 100 % solar roof-top; certified as “Net-Zero” energy factory.
- All PUs have in-house R&D wings recognized by DSIR, Govt. of India.
- Next-generation “Vande Bharat Sleeper” coaches will be produced at ICF & MCF.
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Which is the oldest and only electric-loco production unit? – CLW, Chittaranjan.
- Where is the Rail Wheel Factory located? – Yelahanka, Bengaluru (Karnataka).
- What is the new name of DLW? – Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi.
- Which PU manufactured Vande Bharat Train-18? – ICF, Chennai.
- Which is the newest coach production unit? – Modern Coach Factory (MCF), Raebareli.
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