Indian Railways is set to significantly enhance passenger capacity on its flagship Vande Bharat Express routes by introducing additional coaches on high-demand corridors. The move, aimed at curbing overcrowding and improving passenger comfort, reflects the national transporter’s broader modernisation agenda to provide faster, greener, and more efficient train travel.
Officials confirmed that routes such as Madurai to Bengaluru Cantt, Howrah to Rourkela, Mangaluru Central to Thiruvananthapuram Central, Secunderabad to Tirupati, Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli, Deoghar to Varanasi, and Indore to Nagpur have been selected for capacity augmentation. These sectors have consistently recorded high occupancy levels, underscoring the need for expanded services. Under the upgrade plan, existing eight-coach Vande Bharat trains will be converted into 16-coach formations, while 16-coach services will be expanded into 20-coach units. This reconfiguration will substantially increase seating capacity, especially during peak travel seasons and festive periods when congestion typically intensifies.
Railway Board data indicates that three 16-coach trains will be transformed into 20-coach units, while four eight-coach trains will be doubled into 16-coach sets. In addition, fresh deployments of 20-coach trains are also being considered for rollout across some of the busiest intercity networks. Freed-up rakes from the existing fleet are expected to be reallocated to other corridors, thereby strengthening connectivity across the country. Transport experts point out that this expansion is not merely a response to overcrowding but part of a deliberate strategy to make Indian railways more sustainable. With each Vande Bharat train running at higher capacity, the carbon footprint per passenger reduces, aligning with India’s net zero transport goals.
The Vande Bharat series, introduced as a next-generation train for semi-high-speed intercity travel, has rapidly gained popularity for its speed, reliability, and passenger-friendly amenities. Upgraded coaches will continue to feature ergonomic seating, automatic doors, energy-efficient systems, and enhanced onboard safety, ensuring that additional capacity does not compromise travel quality. Officials emphasised that passenger safety remains paramount. After recent concerns about overcrowding on suburban networks, the decision to expand Vande Bharat services is expected to help redistribute long-distance travellers from conventional trains, thereby easing load across the wider network.
The first set of upgraded services will be deployed on the southern routes, including Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli, where demand has outstripped supply for months. Northern and eastern corridors such as Howrah to Rourkela and Deoghar to Varanasi will also witness significant capacity expansion. By offering more spacious seating arrangements and reducing congestion, Indian Railways is attempting to make train travel more appealing in comparison to air and road transport. The expansion is also expected to play a key role in boosting regional connectivity, supporting tourism, and facilitating sustainable intercity mobility.
As India’s rail modernisation gathers momentum, the enhanced Vande Bharat fleet stands as a symbol of the country’s ambition to deliver world-class, eco-friendly, and equitable mobility solutions for millions of passengers.
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