Indian Railways clears 220 kmph trains, set to surpass Vande Bharat
New Delhi: Indian Railways is preparing for its next big leap in high-speed travel, moving beyond the Vande Bharat Express with new trainsets designed to run significantly faster and more efficiently across the network.
The Railway Board has approved the production of two advanced trainsets with a design speed of 220 kmph, marking a major upgrade in India’s semi-high-speed rail ambitions.
According to a report in India Today, the project has been cleared under the Coach Production Programme for 2027-28, with execution assigned to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
Each trainset will feature 16 coaches and will be built for India’s broad-gauge network, ensuring compatibility with existing railway infrastructure.
Faster than Vande Bharat: What’s changing?
At present, the Vande Bharat Express remains India’s fastest operational train, with a design speed of 180 kmph.
The new trainsets are expected to push that benchmark further:
Design speed: 220 kmph
Operational potential: Up to 200 kmph
If achieved, this would place Indian Railways much closer to global semi-high-speed rail standards, raising expectations for faster intercity travel in the coming years.
The development is also a strong boost for domestic manufacturing under the Make in India initiative.
In October 2024, the Integral Coach Factory awarded a contract to BEML for the design and production of two high-speed trainsets.
Initially, each train will be built with 8 coaches, with full-scale expansion planned later.
The financial structure highlights the scale of the project:
₹27.86 crore per coach
Total contract value: ₹866.87 crore
Includes development, tooling, and testing infrastructure
Officials say this investment will not only produce faster trains but also build long-term capability for future high-speed rail projects in India.
What will passengers get inside?
The upcoming trainsets are expected to focus heavily on comfort and modern travel experience, including:
- Steel-bodied coaches for higher durability
- Fully air-conditioned chair car layout
- Reclining ergonomic seats
- Advanced onboard passenger information systems
The goal is to ensure that higher speeds come with smoother rides, better comfort, and improved safety systems.
India’s bigger high-speed ambition
While most trains in India currently operate up to 160 kmph, real-world speeds are often lower due to track limitations. At present, there are no regular passenger services above 200 kmph in the country.
However, with these new trainsets and supporting infrastructure upgrades, Indian Railways is gradually laying the foundation for a new era of faster intercity travel.
India may soon see trains that go beyond the Vande Bharat benchmark, with 220 kmph-capable trainsets signalling a future where long-distance travel could become significantly faster, smoother, and more modern.