Vande Metro Speeds Ahead: First Prototype Rolls Out This April!

The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, Punjab is set to unveil the inaugural prototype of the Vande Metro coach by April of this year. A total of 16 such coaches are slated for completion by the latter part of the 2024-25 period, following which production will commence after thorough trials.

The Vande Metro, inspired by the pioneering indigenous semi-high speed train, Vande Bharat, is designed to operate over distances of up to 250 km. Each Vande Metro train comprises 16 air-conditioned coaches, capable of reaching speeds of up to 130 km per hour. Notably, the RCF recently introduced 24 specialized Rajdhani sleeper coaches in December of the previous year for a long-distance service on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla route. An additional 24-coach rake is scheduled for rollout in March of this year, with two more rakes planned for the subsequent financial year.

Trials for Vistadome coaches destined for the historic Kalka-Shimla route have been successfully concluded, signaling their imminent deployment on this narrow gauge track. The RCF has plans to manufacture an additional 30 Vistadome coaches in the upcoming financial year. Furthermore, a double-decker cargo liner coach, currently undergoing trials on the Ambala-Sahnewal section, boasts a capacity of 46 passengers and can carry a payload of six tonnes.

The Vande Metro trains are designed to accommodate 280 passengers, with seating for 100 and standing room for 180. The layout maximizes passenger capacity with a 3x3 bench-type seating arrangement, while each coach will be outfitted with 14 sensors for fire and smoke detection. Safety features include the Kavach collision prevention system. Passenger convenience is prioritized with automatic plug doors at the entrance and touch-free doors within the compartments.

RCF serves as a pivotal coach manufacturing unit within the Indian Railways system, driving innovation and enhancing the passenger experience.

News by Rahul Yelligetti