Vande Bharat Express Train marks the advent of the semi-high-speed train set, which revolutionized the notion of rail travel experience with state-of-the-art passenger amenities and reduced travel time. 

On February 15, 2019, the Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express between New Delhi and Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Exhibiting the true spirit of the ‘Make-In-India’ initiative, this indigenously engineered train set is being manufactured at Integral Coach Factory, Chennai.

The Idea of manufacturing indigenous semi high speed train sets came during 1st Rail  Vikas Shivir in 2016. The project began in mid-2017 and Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai, manufactured Train-18 in 2018, India’s first semi-high-speed train set, in just 18 months. The train was named Train-18 to signify the target completion time and the deadline set by ICF (18 months i.e by 2018). 2nd December the Train-18 breached the 180 kmph speed limit on the Kota-Sawai Madhopur section. 

In January 2019, acknowledging its made-in-India status, Indian Railways named the indigenously manufactured Train-18 as Vande Bharat Express. On 15th February 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated The first Vande Bharat Express between New Delhi and Varanasi.

So far, there are 46 Vande Bharat Express services running enhanced commutes throughout the country. Encompassing a total of 24 states & UTs, the Vande Bharat Express fleet has been ever-growing owing to its time-saving feature, which saves an average of an hour in comparison to other trains. With a maximum permissible speed of up to 160 kmph, it provides faster acceleration. The Vande Bharat Express is the fastest passenger train on the route it is running.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1st February 2022 during her budget speech announced that 400 new-generation Vande Bharat Trains with better energy efficiency and passenger riding experience will be developed and manufactured.  As of July 2022, a tender has been awarded for manufacturing 102 Vande Bharat trains and another tender has been floated for 200 Vande Bharat trains.

The 46 services run on Electrified Rail Networks across the destinations, and they will soon make their mark in the few states/UT left once the Rail Network is electrified. As of 28th June 2023, all states with electrified rail networks have Vande Bharat Express service and Indian Railways is moving apace in mission mode to achieve a 100% Electrified Broad-Gauge Network. The remaining few states across India will soon have Vande Bharat connectivity after electrification and the ever-growing rail network expansion.

The Vande Bharat Express has been popular among travelers ever since its inception. A testimony to this is the 100% occupancy rate on the present Vande Bharat trains running across the nation for the period between 01.04.2022-21.06.23. Making 2140 trips, 25,20,370 Net passengers have boarded the Vande Bharat Express from 1st April 22 to 21st June 2023. Besides this, the figure for Redefined berths is 25,23,538 for the same period.

In comparison to road and air transportation, Vande Bharat is known for its efficient connectivity. It is a more economical option compared to air travel, which has flexible/dynamic pricing & is available on routes with no direct flights. This is also a time-saving option, with no additional time (around 45 minutes) spent at the airport prior to boarding the aircraft.

It is also a preferred mode over road travel as it is a time-saving mode with a less noisy travel experience & without any hassle of traffic Jams & other charges (toll charges, State Transportation Tax, etc.) Along with this, hot & delicious meals served onboard & rotatable chairs add to the comfort of the journey compared to roadways mode of transportation.

Additionally, Vande Bharat Express boasts an array of premium features, from being energy-efficient and making it an environmentally-conscious pick with a lower carbon footprint to ample legroom for passengers to enjoy scenic views throughout their journeys. The coaches are equipped with infotainment systems for recreation, mobile charging sockets for every seat, automatic plug doors, and direct & diffused lighting in the coaches. Factoring in safety, these train sets are fitted with the KAVACH System to ensure a secure voyage. Touch-free toilet systems enable a cleaner and more resourceful unit, which adds to the convenience of the passengers aboard. These are also Divyangjan-friendly coaches, equipped with a Braille system to offer smooth sailing and make the overall experience more inclusive.

The journeys have been highly appreciated, with testimonies and acclaim from the passengers. Not only businessmen but also devotees have benefited from the seamless connectivity to various major cities. With this, there’s a boost in religious tourism to several destinations, such as Tirupati, Shirdi, Ajmer and more.

From the cleanliness upheld & maintained in the coach to the food served, the passenger critique remains favorable. The futuristic outlook of the coach is remarkable and gathers every gaze as it moves. The indigenous aspect of uplifting the ‘Make In India’ initiative drives forth the pride that emerges from ‘Made in India for India.’

The government is also trying to develop the Vande Metro which will provide rapid world class- shuttle like experience for the passengers. In order to develop the Vande Metro the PM’s vision was within a big periphery of big cities of around 50 km where there is large habitat and to secure them like the Vande Bharat express. In continuation with above for long distance travel a sleeper version of Vande Bharat Express trains will be launched soon. During the year 2023-24 the design and production will be completed for the Vande metro and that will be ramped up in the upcoming financial year of 2024-25.

Running Vande Bharat trains

●       46 services started

●       24 states/UTs covered : Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand,  Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal. Except few states where rail track electrification is going on and Diu, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar UT’s, all states and UTs are being catered by Vande Bharat services.

Passenger testimonies: