Railways to Roll Out 100 MEMUs and 50 Namo Bharat Trains to Boost Short-Distance Travel

In a move to enhance rail connectivity and modernise infrastructure, the government has announced new initiatives to ease passenger travel and boost cargo movement. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed plans for the manufacture of upgraded trains and launched a major automobile freight terminal in Haryana.

Expansion of MEMU Trains for Commuters

At the inauguration of India’s largest automobile loading facility in Manesar, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “Yesterday, 2 major decisions were made. To ease passenger travel, 100 MEMUs will be manufactured with 16 and 20 coaches. Earlier, MEMUs were manufactured with 8 or 12 coaches. A new factory is being set up in Kazipet, Telangana, where these trains will be made.”

MEMUs (Mainline Electric Multiple Units) are electric trains suited for short and medium-distance routes with frequent stops, connecting suburban and city regions. Their expansion is expected to ease overcrowding and improve the travel experience for daily passengers.

Introduction of Namo Bharat Trains

The minister also said that the Ministry of Railways will build 50 new Namo Bharat trains. These air-conditioned trains are meant for short-distance city-to-city travel and were first launched in Gujarat last year.

This announcement reaffirms the government’s earlier commitment made post the Union Budget to roll out 50 such trains. The focus remains on regional connectivity and enhanced passenger comfort for intercity travellers.

Automobile Freight Terminal at Manesar

Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw said the newly inaugurated GatiShakti Cargo Terminal, located at Maruti Suzuki India’s Manesar plant, will play a key role in promoting green logistics. “In line with the vision of the Prime Minister, railways undertook major reforms in 2021 to strengthen multi-modal logistics, resulting in the construction of 108 multi-modal cargo terminals in a short span of time.”

The Manesar terminal spans 45 acres and can handle up to 4.5 lakh cars annually. It will replace road-based car transport with rail logistics, reducing carbon emissions and increasing efficiency.

Boosting Railway Operations and Connectivity

The minister shared that Maruti Suzuki transported 518,000 units in 2024-25 through the Automobile Freight Train Operator scheme. Overall, Indian Railways crossed the milestone of transporting one million cars in FY25, with 20% of all cars manufactured in India now moved by rail.

Additionally, he mentioned a pilot project in the Bikaner division, where final reservation charts are published 24 hours before departure. “This has borne great results,” he said, adding that it allows passengers to plan journeys better, as opposed to the current practice of releasing charts 2–3 hours before departure.

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Conclusion

The announcement of expanded MEMU and Namo Bharat trains, along with the inauguration of the Manesar cargo terminal, marks a significant step in modernising India’s rail transport. These developments are poised to ease daily commuting, promote green logistics, and strengthen the country’s freight ecosystem.

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