Indian Railways is looking to roll out its first upgraded Vande Bharat Express train by early 2022. The new Vande Bharat Express with new comfort and safety features will be a step up in terms of amenities and specifications, learns TOI. The Vande Bharat Express project has recently been overhauled and several new features will be added to the new trains both in terms of passenger comfort and safety, a source told TOI. “The first prototype rake is tentatively planned to be dispatched in March 2022. This will be put to commercial service by June 2022,” the source said.
Vande Bharat Express trains: Here’s what will be new
- Push back arrangement for reclining of seats
- Bacteria free air conditioning system
- Centralised Coach Monitoring System for climate control and to monitor all electrical and vital systems on board
- Four emergency windows for easier evacuation of passengers in case of any emergency
- Better flood protection of underframe equipment especially meant to ensure safety during monsoon
- Four disaster lights in each coach in case of failure of all other lights
- Availability of ventilation for up to 3 hours in case of power failure
- Four instead of two emergency push buttons in each coach
- Use of fire survival cables in Passenger Information System and door circuits
Vande Bharat Express – also called Train 18 after the year it was first manufactured in – is a self-propelled train set. The all air-conditioned chair car service has several swanky features including; automatic doors with sliding footsteps, European-style seats, rotating seats in Executive class, personalised reading lights, cushioned luggage racks with glass bottoms, modular bio-vacuum toilets, mobile charging points with each seat, GPS-based passenger information screens at the end of each coach, divyang-friendly toilet, fully sealed gangways, diffused LED lighting, mini-pantry, automatic sliding doors in each compartment.
Vande Bharat Express Executive class
In January 2021, Indian Railways awarded the tender for the propulsion systems, control and other equipment of 44 Vande Bharat train sets (16 coaches each) to Medha Servo Drives. In line with the ‘Make In India’ initiative, the tender has a minimum 75% local content requirement. Reports suggest that 10 new Vande Bharat trains will be launched by August 2022 to mark 75 years of India’s Independence.
With speed potential of up to 180 kmph, Vande Bharat trains have ushered in a new era of train travel in India. The self-propulsion system is designed to allow for faster acceleration and deceleration, which in turn helps in cutting down the travel time.
Indian Railways currently operates two Vande Bharat trains on its network – Delhi to Varanasi and Delhi to Katra. Importantly, the travel time between the cities has come down to just 8 hours from 12-14 hours earlier. This has allowed railw
