India's Rail Revolution: Hilton Forges Ahead with "Make in India" Wheelsets

Hilton Metal Forging has successfully manufactured and obtained RITES approval for its indigenously developed forged railway wagon wheelsets—a key milestone in advancing domestic railway component manufacturing. Each wheelset consists of two forged wheels and one forged axle, with four required per coach or wagon.

This achievement positions Hilton to support the growing needs of Indian railway wagon manufacturers while reducing reliance on Chinese imports. In alignment with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the company aims to produce over 3,000 wheelsets in FY26, scaling up to more than 12,000 in FY27, with a planned total installed capacity of 20,000 wheelsets annually.

The initiative coincides with the Indian government’s strategy to increase the share of freight transport via rail from 27% to 45% by 2030. This push is supported by 98% network electrification and programs like Mission Raftaar, aimed at enhancing train speeds. In FY25 alone, Indian Railways produced 41,929 freight wagons, 1,681 locomotives (up 19% from FY24), and 7,134 passenger coaches (up from 6,541 in FY24).

Further supporting demand, approximately 90,000 railway units—including wagons, coaches, and locomotives—undergo scheduled maintenance annually across 44 workshops nationwide. Hilton’s foray into domestic wheelset manufacturing not only meets rising demand for quality components but also contributes to India’s broader infrastructure modernization efforts.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.