Vande Bharat 16-coach train completes 180 kmph speed trial on Mathura-Nagda route

Indian Railways has completed a successful 180 kmph speed trial of its new 16-coach Vande Bharat chair car trainset along the Mathura–Nagda section, marking another milestone in the country's rail modernisation programme.

The trial took place on 8 October 2026 under the supervision of the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety. The testing assessed the train's performance, stability, and safety systems at high speed along the corridor, which forms a vital portion of the main rail trunk connecting Delhi and Mumbai.

Built in Kapurthala

The 16-coach chair car trainset was produced at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, Punjab. Previous Vande Bharat trains were manufactured primarily at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. RCF Kapurthala achieved its highest-ever annual output in the 2025–26 financial year, producing 2,383 coaches and exporting railway rolling stock to several Asian and African countries.

Although the train is engineered for a trial speed of 180 kmph, initial regular passenger services will run at speeds between 130 kmph and 160 kmph, depending on track conditions and signalling infrastructure across different sections.

Passengers on the new chair car will have access to reclining seats with extended legroom, panoramic windows, zero-discharge bio-vacuum toilets, and an adaptive temperature control system that adjusts cooling based on occupancy. The coaches also feature automatic sliding doors and toilets designed specifically for wheelchair access.

Plans for a 24-coach sleeper trainset

Indian Railways is simultaneously preparing to launch long-distance overnight Vande Bharat sleeper services. Design work is currently being finalised at Integral Coach Factory Chennai for a 24-coach sleeper variant, with a target rollout planned for June 2027.

Unlike the 16-coach prototype setup, the expanded 24-coach configuration will include an onboard pantry car for hot meal service, additional toilets, and updated interior layouts to serve higher passenger volumes. The baseline sleeper layout features 11 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches, and one AC First Class coach complete with hot water shower facilities.

Multiple domestic and international manufacturing partnerships are supporting the fleet expansion. BEML is producing 10 sleeper trainsets after securing an additional contract worth approximately ₹180.60 crore from ICF in September 2026. Indo-Russian joint venture Kinet has been assigned 120 trainsets, while a consortium of Titagarh and BHEL is set to build another 80.

Safety across the expanding sleeper network will be supported by the indigenous KAVACH anti-collision system, alongside regenerative braking systems designed to improve energy efficiency.