Vande Bharat turns six; Era of Vande series trains begins on India's tracks

Kannur: Stylish design, superior speed and remarkable structure — Vande Bharat has turned six. India’s first Vande Bharat train began operations in February, 2019 on the Delhi-Varanasi route. Currently, 78 Vande Bharat trains are running across the country. These daytime trains quickly gained popularity. The Vande Bharat Sleeper, designed for night travel, is set to be launched this year. The Vande Bharat has also made its debut in Kashmir with several unique features. By 2025-26, India is expected to have 200 Vande Bharat trains, 50 Vande Sleeper trains and 100 Amrit Bharat trains.

The first two Vande Bharat trains (Train-18) were launched in 2019 under the leadership of Sudhanshu Mani, then general manager of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. In 2022, ICF ramped up the production of train sets. The highly anticipated Vande Sleeper is being manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML). The two Vande Bharat trains currently operating in Kerala lead the country in both speed and popularity, maintaining occupancy rates close to 200%.

No locomotive engine

Vande Bharat has revolutionised traditional coaches that relied on locomotive engines. These trains operate with traction motors instead of a separate locomotive. Motors are installed beneath alternate coaches, propelling the train through self-propulsion. They can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in a short time and reach speeds of up to 180 km/h. All trains in the Vande series operate in this manner.

Vande series:

• Vande Bharat: AC sitting (Manufactured by ICF)
• Vande Sleeper: AC sleeper (Manufactured by BEML)
• Vande Metro (Namo Bharat): An upgraded version of MEMU, AC sitting (Manufactured by ICF)
• Amrit Bharat: Sleeper and general coaches (Manufactured by ICF)
• Vande Kashmir: Equipped with heating systems to withstand cold climates (Manufactured by ICF)

Vande Bharat’s maiden runs:

• In India: February 15, 2019 (Delhi-Varanasi)
• In South India: November 11, 2022 (Mysuru-Chennai)
• In Kerala: April 26, 2023 (Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod)

‘Technical upgrades needed’

Sudhanshu Mani, retired general manager, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, says, “Vande Bharat represents the future of Indian railways. However, the trains in the Vande series require technical upgrades, as there have been no significant advancements since 2019. The Vande Sleeper is crucial to meeting India’s growing transportation needs.”