Tracking the genesis of RCF Kapurthala

Tribune lensman Malkiat Singh takes you on a journey to one of the world’s largest coach manufacturing units, capturing the functioning of various engineering sections of the factory right from designing, manufacturing to assembly of the components

How it all began…

• The foundation stone of Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, was laid on August 17, 1985, by the then Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi. The objective was to enhance the production capacity of passenger coaches for the ever increasing demand of Indian Railways (IR) and to generate employment opportunities for the youth of Punjab.
• The project was sanctioned at an initial cost of Rs423 crore in 1985, however, expansion projects were taken up later.
• The production at RCF commenced on September 19, 1987, just after two years from the inception of the project and the first coach was rolled out on March 31, 1988.
• The RCF started manufacturing ICF design coaches made of corten steel. However, after transfer of technology from Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) of Germany in 1998, it started manufacturing modern stainless steel coaches having speed potential of 160 kmph. These are extensively being used in premium trains such as Duronto, Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express among others.
• India’s first TEJAS train was rolled out from RCF on May 18, 2017, and was pressed into service on May 22, 2017, on Mumbai-Karmali (Goa) route. Thereafter, coaches for Buddhist Circuit rake were turned out in November 2018. On March 19, 2019, coaches for first Uday rake were rolled out from the RCF.
• RCF is the only production unit of the IR to roll out all five types of new genre coaches — Tejas, Humsafar, Uday Antyodaya and Deendayalu.
• Besides, RCF rolled out the first ever high-capacity LHB parcel van of 24 ton total carrying capacity capable to run at 130 kmph on January 28, 2020.
• RCF has also produced Meter Gauge (MG) coaches, which have been exported to African and South East Asian countries, besides manufacturing LHB coaches for Bangaldesh.
• It is now one of the largest coach manufacturing units in the world meeting almost half of the requirement of Indian Railways (IR).
• RCF Kapurthala has completely revolutionised its functioning. It is now not just rolling out specially designed coaches of anti-microbial material, but has also developed technology for light-weight LHB coaches for faster run of trains.

Spread on 1,178 acre land

• Every nook and corner of the 1,178 acre RCF land has been planned meticulously. Nearly 1.75 lakh trees add charm to this engineering marvel. The integrated township for employees boasts of lush green surroundings, besides effective rainwater harvesting system and world-class sports facilities.
• The campus is self-sufficient in all basic amenities such as a 70-bed hospital, schools, shopping centres, banks, post office, recreational and sports facilities. A women’s welfare organisation is active in promoting social and cultural values among family members. This organisation is running a crèche, a computer centre for women and children, a public school and a sewing training centre, besides Vatsalya- a centre for specially-abled children.
• RCF Sports Association is actively associated with the promotion of sports among employees and their wards. It has an 18-hole golf course and astro-turf hockey stadium, which churns out players of international calibre year after year. Several players have won laurels in international and national-level championships. Besides other sports infrastructure, RCF has a cricket stadium, built according to the BCCI norms, which has successfully hosted the All-India Railway Cricket Championship.