News Brief
Despite 180 Kmph Speed Potential, Vande Bharat Trains Run At 130 Kmph Consistently Only On Five Routes
Five Vande Bharat Express trains now run at 130 kmph speed across their entire routes, boosting faster intercity travel. (File Photo)
Indian Railways has transformed intercity travel with the Vande Bharat Express trains, introduced in 2019.
Designed by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), these semi-high-speed trains reduce travel time and operate with high passenger demand. Currently, 150 services (75 UP and 75 Down) run nationwide, reported The Indian Express.
The trains can achieve a top speed of 180 kmph, though their maximum operating limit is 160 kmph. In practice, track geometry, stoppages, and maintenance often restrict their speed. Despite these challenges, five Vande Bharat trains consistently run at 130 kmph across their full routes. These include:
Train no. 20825/20826 Bilaspur–Nagpur–Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express
Train no. 22347/22348 Howrah–Patna–Howrah Vande Bharat Express
Train no. 22962/22961 Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express
Train no. 20101/20102 Nagpur–Secunderabad–Nagpur Vande Bharat Express
Other services also hit 130 kmph but only on certain stretches. For example, the Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat maintains 130 kmph between New Delhi and Prayagraj, but slows to 110 kmph till Varanasi. Similarly, the New Delhi–Katra train runs at 130 kmph up to Ludhiana but drops to 110 kmph beyond.
In Parliament, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted continuing renovations to railway tracks on Indian Railways to increase speed potential, which had been carried out in a large way during the last 10 years.
These advancements mark a significant step toward faster, more efficient rail connectivity across India.
