Vande Bharat Express

Vande Bharat Express
Vande Bharat Express trains in different liveries
Overview
Service typeInter-city semi-high-speed rail
StatusActive
PredecessorShatabdi Express
First service15 February 2019; 5 years ago (2019-02-15)
Websiteindianrail.gov.in
Route
Line(s) used66
On-board services
Class(es)AC Chair Car (CC)
AC Executive Class (EC)
Seating arrangements
  • Airline style
  • Rotatable seats (EC)
Catering facilitiesOn-board catering
Observation facilitiesWide windows
Entertainment facilities
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Other facilities
Technical
Rolling stockVande Bharat (trainset)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed160 km/h (99 mph) (maximum)
83 km/h (52 mph)[1][2] (average)
Average length384 m (1,260 ft) (16 coaches)
192 m (630 ft) (8 coaches)
480 m (1,570 ft) (20 coaches)

Vande Bharat Express is a medium-distance superfast express service operated by Indian Railways. It is a reserved, air-conditioned chair car service connecting cities that are less than 800 km (500 mi) apart or take less than ten hours to travel with existing services. The train was a part of the 'Make in India' initiative by the government and entered commercial service on 15 February 2019.

The trainsets are self-propelling Electric Multiple Units (EMU)s with eight or sixteen coaches. The trainset was designed and manufactured by Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Introduced in 2018, the trainsets achieved semi-high speeds of 183 km/h (114 mph) on trials, and crossed target trial speed of 180 km/h (110 mph) on trials, but the maximum operational speed is 160 km/h (99 mph) which is achieved by the Rani Kamalapati (Habibganj)–Hazrat Nizamuddin Vande Bharat Express and Hazrat Nizamuddin-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express on the TughlakabadAgra section.

  1. ^ "Vande Bharat Express averages 83 kmph, falls short of its top speed of 130 kmph". Livemint. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Built to hit 180 kmph, WHY do Vande Bharat Express trains run at 83 kmph average speed? RTI reply reveals". The Financial Express. 19 April 2023. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.