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The company supplies 201LN grade for the first time ever, making coaches lighter and more energy efficient

Boosting inter-city travel services in India, the Indian Railways recently unveiled its first Vande Metro train from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. Jindal Stainless, India’s largest stainless steel manufacturer, has supplied the tempered 201LN grade of high-strength stainless steel for this prestigious project. The Vande Metro train is a shorter-distance version of the Vande Bharat Express. Compared with the conventional ferritic stainless steel grade, the thickness of the external panels of trainsets has been reduced from 3 mm to 2 mm, resulting in lighter, more energy-efficient, and therefore, more cost-effective trains. The stainless steel 201LN grade is also extremely corrosion resistant, has higher strength and superior durability, and exhibits better crash-resistant properties, thereby providing the best-in-class safety to passengers.

Commenting on this development, Managing Director, Jindal Stainless, Mr Abhyuday Jindal, said, “We are glad to be a part of the modernisation of India’s railway infrastructure and rolling stock. It’s a privilege to play an instrumental role in Indian Railways’ decision to migrate from the ferritic grade to 201LN stainless steel for the first time ever. The light-weight and energy-efficient car body will reduce the carbon footprint of the Indian Railways and act as a catalyst to achieve its Net Zero target. I am confident that Vande Metro trains will provide a world-class experience to passengers and we are happy to partner with IR on this.”

The Vande Metro aims to cater to urban commuters travelling distances up to 250 km. It is expected to connect more than 120 cities nationwide and will be launched in July this year. The preliminary routes include Chennai-Tirupati, Bhubaneswar-Balasore, Agra-Mathura, Delhi-Rewari, and Lucknow-Kanpur.