Indian Railways: Will Vande Bharat sleeper trains replace Shatabdis and Rajdhanis Express?

Indian Railways aims to replace Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains with high-speed Vande Bharat.

Updated: December 12, 2024 12:38 IST

Several railway officials have said that the current Vande Bharat Express trains will replace Shatabdi Express in a phased manner. (Photo: IE)

The Indian Railways is planning to introduce sleeper versions of the Vande Bharat Express trains, designed for long-distance travel at speeds of 200 km per hour. This development raises the question of whether Indian Railways intends to replace Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains with high-speed Vande Bharat Express sleeper trains, and whether there are plans to expand the Vande Bharat network with Vande Metro services in Mumbai.

The Vande Bharat Express, India’s first semi-high-speed train, was developed and designed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, a subsidiary of Indian Railways. These sleek and modern trains are fully air-conditioned and offers world-class amenities and services for passengers. The Vande Bharat Express showcases the pinnacle of Indian technology and engineering, combining speed, comfort, and luxury. Its popularity among passengers underscores its importance in the future of Indian Railways.

Will Vande Bharat trains replace Shatabdis, Rajdhanis?

Meanwhile, several railway officials have said that the current Vande Bharat Express trains will replace Shatabdi Express in a phased manner. It is worth noting that the sleeper version of the semi-high-speed indigenous train will serve as an alternative to the existing Rajdhani Express trains. The Rajdhani Express is considered one of Indian Railways’ premium services, connecting New Delhi with various state capitals.

Earlier, in an interview with Financial Express, BG Mallya, General Manager of Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai had pointed out that in several locations where the Vande Bharat Express has been launched, its schedules closely match those of the Shatabdi Express. Mallya drew parallel and said that this suggests that there is a possibility of Vande Bharat replacing Shatabdi trains.

Vande Bharat to be the future

While short-distance Vande Bharat trains with chair cars are already operational, there are discussions underway regarding the introduction of Vande Bharat Metro services. Prototypes of these metro-style trains are expected to be unveiled in the near future, exploring the possibility of expanding the Vande Bharat concept to urban transit systems.