Vande Bharat Trains To Have 3 New Versions by February-March Next Year: Railways Minister

The Union Railways Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that Vande Bharat trains will undergo a significant transformation with the introduction of three distinct versions - Vande Chair Car, Vande Metro, and Vande Sleepers - by February-March next year.

These indigenously manufactured semi-high speed trains, designed to replace the existing Shatabdis, Rajdhanis, and local trains, are being produced at the Integrated Coach Factory in Chennai.

In an exclusive interview with PTI, Minister Vaishnaw stated that over the next three to four years, railway tracks across the country will be upgraded to facilitate the maximum speed of 160 kmph for the Vande Bharat trains.

"The three variants of Vande Bharat are as follows: Vande Metro for distances under 100 kilometers, Vande Chair Car for journeys between 100 and 550 kilometers, and Vande Sleepers for trips beyond 550 kilometers. These three versions will be available by February-March of the upcoming year," stated Vaishnaw during the launch of a Vande Bharat train from Uttarakhand's Dehradun to the Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station in Delhi.

The inaugural ceremony of the Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Equipped with state-of-the-art amenities for passengers, this first-of-its-kind train in Uttarakhand will reduce the travel time between the state capital Dehradun and the national capital to four and a half hours, significantly shorter than the six hours and 10 minutes required by the Dehradun-New Delhi Railway Station Shatabdi Express.

Minister Vaishnaw also declared that each state in the country will receive a Vande Bharat train by mid-June, highlighting the expedited production of these trains.

"The factory is delivering a new train every eighth or ninth day. Additionally, work will commence at two more factories, and once their supply chains stabilize, we will witness the production of trains from these facilities as well," added Vaishnaw.

Although Vande Bharat trains are designed to achieve a top speed of 160 kmph, they will initially operate at speeds of up to 130 kmph, depending on the track capacity.

Vaishnaw further explained, "The existing tracks were primarily designed to support speeds ranging from 70 to 80 kmph. However, we are currently upgrading approximately 30,000-35,000 kilometers of tracks to facilitate speeds of 110 kmph, 130 kmph, and 160 kmph. These upgrades will be completed within the next three to four years."

The minister emphasised that the railway authorities are diligently working on projects to improve rail connectivity in border areas. Moreover, steps are being taken to provide 4G-5G services to train passengers.

"The railways are rapidly installing 4G-5G towers, with significant progress already made. Installation is ongoing in multiple locations, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity," Vaishnaw confirmed.