Railway AC System Market Report 2026

The railway ac system market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.72 billion in 2025 to $5.13 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of passenger rail networks, rising investments in railway electrification, increased deployment of air-conditioned coaches, modernization of aging train fleets, growing focus on onboard comfort standards.

The railway ac system market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.11 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption of smart and connected ac systems, rising demand for low-energy railway cooling solutions, expansion of high-speed rail corridors, increasing integration of predictive maintenance technologies, growing focus on environmentally friendly refrigerants. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of energy-efficient railway ac systems, rising integration of smart climate control technologies, growing demand for high-capacity ac units in high-speed trains, expansion of modular and lightweight ac designs, enhanced focus on passenger comfort optimization.

The growth of metro trains is expected to propel the growth of the railway air conditioning system market going forward. Metro trains are urban transit systems operating on exclusive tracks. The growth of metro trains is driven by increasing urbanization, demand for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions, and the need to reduce travel times between major cities. Railway air conditioning systems support metro trains by maintaining comfortable temperatures, regulating humidity, improving air quality, and ensuring efficient cooling under diverse operating conditions, contributing to a safer, more reliable, and energy-efficient travel experience. For instance, in January 2025, according to The Transport Politic, a US-based independent journal, in 2024, nearly 1,300 kilometers of new metro lines were introduced worldwide, increasing the total network by approximately 6 percent from the over 22,400 kilometers in operation at the end of 2023. Therefore, the growth of metro trains is driving the growth of the railway air conditioning system market.

Major companies operating in the railway air conditioning system market are focusing on technological advancements such as sustainable refrigerants to reduce environmental impact and enhance energy efficiency. Sustainable refrigerants are environmentally friendly cooling agents that minimize or eliminate harmful effects on the climate, primarily by having low or zero global warming potential and ozone depletion potential. Sustainable refrigerants are used in railway air conditioning systems to provide environmentally friendly cooling solutions that minimize greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy efficiency, such as the adoption of natural refrigerants like propane and carbon dioxide. For instance, in July 2024, Liebherr-International AG, a Switzerland-based equipment manufacturer, introduced a propane-based heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for Stadler Rail AG, a Switzerland-based rail infrastructure company, marking a significant advancement in sustainable rail technology. This innovative HVAC solution utilizes propane (R290) as a natural refrigerant, which not only enhances energy efficiency but also significantly reduces environmental impact compared to traditional synthetic refrigerants.

In July 2024, Liebherr-Transportation Systems, an Austria-based railway systems and components company, partnered with Stadler Polska to supply heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for new electric multiple units. With this collaboration, Liebherr-Transportation Systems and Stadler Polska aim to integrate energy-efficient and environmentally friendly HVAC technology to improve onboard performance and efficiency, enhance passenger comfort through reliable climate control, and support sustainability through the use of low-global-warming-potential refrigerants. Stadler Polska is a Poland-based rail vehicle manufacturing company that specializes in the design and production of electric multiple units and other rolling stock for regional and intercity rail transport.

Major companies operating in the railway ac system market are Hitachi Ltd., Denso Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., CRRC Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Toshiba Corporation, Johnson Controls International plc, Alstom SA, Emerson Electric Company, Liebherr-Transportation Systems GmbH & Co KG, Mahle GmbH, Danfoss, Wabtec Corporation, Knorr-Bremse AG, Eberspaecher Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Hanon Systems, Thermo King Corporation, BITZER Kuhlmaschinenbau GmbH, Subros Limited, Tesio Cooling Systems.

North America was the largest region in the railway air conditioning system market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the railway ac system market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the railway ac system market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The railway air conditioning system market consists of sales of products such as air ducts, air filters, control units, cooling fans, heat exchangers, refrigerant pipes, ventilation grilles, blower assemblies, thermal insulation materials, and humidity sensors. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.