Maruti Suzuki has started dispatching passenger vehicles by rail to the Pollachi Railway Terminal in Tamil Nadu, becoming the first passenger vehicle manufacturer to use the terminal for vehicle dispatches.
The first automobile rake reached Pollachi earlier this week after being flagged off from Maruti Suzuki’s in-plant railway siding at Manesar on August 18. The rake carried 120 vehicles, including the Wagon R, Ertiga, Dzire and Celerio.
Maruti Suzuki said it worked with Indian Railways to operationalise the Pollachi terminal for rail-based vehicle dispatches. The terminal adds another destination to the company’s rail distribution network in southern India, alongside Coimbatore.
Pollachi terminal to support 11,000 additional vehicles annually
The Pollachi Railway Terminal is expected to handle nearly 70 automobile rakes annually, enabling the delivery of more than 11,000 additional vehicles each year to the region by rail. The company said the terminal will also support vehicle deliveries in southern India ahead of the Onam festival period in Kerala.
Maruti Suzuki raises rail share of vehicle dispatches
Maruti Suzuki began using rail-based vehicle dispatches in FY2014-15. The company said the move was aimed at reducing CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and road congestion.
The share of rail in its outbound vehicle dispatches has increased from 5 per cent in FY2014-15 to 26.5 per cent in FY2025-26. Maruti Suzuki said it has dispatched more than 32 lakh vehicles cumulatively by rail. It aims to increase the share of rail-based dispatches to 35 per cent by FY2030-31.
Pollachi Railway Terminal redeveloped under Amrit Bharat scheme
The Pollachi Railway Terminal was redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Tamil Nadu and inaugurated in March 2026. According to Maruti Suzuki, the redevelopment included improvements to passenger amenities and overall infrastructure, along with access for freight trains.