India’s demand for flexible freight solutions is set to rise, driven by PM Gati Shakti, the National Logistics Policy and Dedicated Freight Corridors.
Touax Texmaco Railcar Leasing (TTRL) will invest about ₹18 billion in 100 new rakes over the next three to five years, following the entry of TrinityRail Global, a subsidiary of US‑based railcar manufacturing and leasing company Trinity Industries, into the joint venture. Trinity joins France’s Touax Group and India’s Texmaco Rail & Engineering, which each hold 34 per cent, while TrinityRail holds 32 per cent.
Saroj Kumar Poddar, Chairman, Texmaco Rail & Engineering and Adventz Group, said on Wednesday in New Delhi, “As India aims to increase rail’s share in freight movement from 27 per cent to 45 per cent under the National Rail Plan, the need for innovative, technology‑led rail solutions has never been greater. This collaboration strengthens indigenous design capabilities, brings global expertise to India, and contributes meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat by making India’s rail logistics more efficient, competitive and future‑ready.
India’s demand for modern, flexible freight solutions is expected to rise, supported by PM Gati Shakti, the National Logistics Policy, and Dedicated Freight Corridors.
Fabrice Walewski, CEO, Touax, said, “By combining global leasing expertise with world‑class manufacturing capabilities, we aim to bring greater capacity, operational flexibility and innovative wagon solutions to the market. Leasing has transformed transportation industries worldwide, and we believe it can play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s railway sector.”
Established in 2011, TTRL introduced globally benchmarked freight wagons under liberalised investment and leasing schemes.
₹3 Trillion Market
The three‑way partnership will integrate design, manufacturing, financing, leasing, maintenance, and asset management. The venture aims to reduce maintenance costs, improve utilisation, and shorten production timelines in India’s rail freight ecosystem, valued at nearly ₹3 trillion.
Patrick Hurst, Chief Investment Officer, TrinityRail, said, “Drawing on more than 50 years of experience managing one of the world’s largest privately owned railcar lease fleets, we aim to bring global expertise in wagon design, lifecycle optimisation, maintenance, financing and technology‑enabled asset management to the Indian market.” He clarified that Trinity has no plans to add manufacturing capacity in India, opting to work through the JV.
Indian Railways—the world’s fourth‑largest rail network—is undergoing modernisation. In the FY2026‑27 Union Budget, the Ministry of Railways received a record outlay of ₹2.78 trillion and capex of ₹2.93 trillion. Since January, the Railways has initiated 52 systemic upgrades in 52 weeks, spanning freight, logistics, and wagon design.
– Manish Pant