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.