New Features of Vande Bharat Express

New Features of Vande Bharat Express

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2688
ANSWERED ON 11.08.2023

VANDE BHARAT TRAINS

SHRI R. DHARMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the features of Vande Bharat Express Trains;

(b) details of funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized for these trains across the country including Tamil Nadu so far;

(c) details of number of trains operational in the country including Tamil Nadu so far;

(d) details of target set and achievements made so far along with its response;

(e) whether Government plans to launch 400 Vande Bharat Trains across the country;

(f) if so, the details thereof along with target likely to set; and

(g) number of States likely to be covered through these trains?

ANSWER: MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW

(a) With a view to provide better travel experience to the passengers, Indian Railways has introduced Vande Bharat trains with modern coaches having following enhanced safety features and amenities:

1. Fitted with KAVACH.
2. Faster acceleration and semi High speed operation up to 160 KMPH.
3. Fully Sealed Gangway for Free Passenger Movement
4. Automatic Plug Doors
5. Reclining Ergonomic Seats and Comfortable Seating with revolving seats in executive class.
6. Better Ride Comfort.
7. Mobile charging sockets for every seat.
8. Mini Pantry with provision of Hot Case, Bottle Cooler, Deep freezer & Hot Water Boiler
9. Direct and Diffused Lighting.
10. For Divyangjan passengers special lavatory in DTC.
11. Emergency openable Windows and fire extinguisher in each coach
12. CCTVs in all Coaches
13. Emergency Alarm Push buttons and Talk Back Units on all Coaches.
14. Better fire safety – Aerosol based fire detection and suppression system in electrical cabinets and lavatories
15. Driver-Guard communication with voice recording facility & Crash hardened memory
16. Coach condition monitoring System (CCMS) display with remote monitoring
17. Disaster lights – 4 numbers in each coach in case of Emergency
18. 4 platform side cameras including rear view cameras outside the coach.

(b) Total funds utilised for manufacture of Vande Bharat trains is Rs.1343.72 Crores till May 23.

(c) to (g) As on 4th August, 2023, 50 Vande-Bharat train services are running on the Indian Railways, connecting states having Board Gauge (BG) electrified network.

These include 04 Vande Bharat services catering to the needs of stations located in the State of Tamil Nadu.

Introduction of trains is an ongoing process subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification etc.

RAJYA SABHA Q&A in PDF Download – Click Here

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Vande Bharat Train’s New Version and It’s Features

Vande Bharat train’s new version with more modified features is under production at ICF Chennai (Integral Coach Factory)

25 More Advanced Safety and Technical Improvement Features Under Progress

• Since last year ICF Chennai has done production of 2702 overall coaches as per the target given by Railway Board that includes 12 coaches of new version of Vande Bharat trains and 2261 LHB coaches.
• ICF is planning to manufacture 3241 coaches in coming years in about 30 variants including new types trains in Vande Bharat express.
• ICF will be turning out another version of Vande Bharat trains called Vande Metro in the current year. This train will cater to intercity short distance commuter travel and will have double leaf doors for easy boarding and de-boarding of passengers.
• To meet the public aspirations of long distance travel by Vande Bharat train, ICF is in the process of developing a sleeper version of Vande Bharat with improved interiors and will be turning out in the current year.
• ICF has taken up the development of Gati Shakti Train for faster freight transport in Vande Bharat platform. This train will serve E-commerce, fast moving consumer goods and refrigerated commodities.
• ICF is also developing Vande Bharat trains for Jammu & Kashmir region with heating facility inside the compartments as well as for the water lines to avoid freezing. This train will be rolled out next year.

The modified features of new version of Vande Bharat trains under production are as follows-

• Increase in seat declining angle
• Better seat cushions
• Better accessibility to mobile charging points than before
• Extended foot rest in Executive chair car class coaches
• Wash basins with more depth to avoid water splashing
• Better toilet lighting
• Provision of fixing points for wheel chairs used by divyangjan passengers in the driving trailer coaches
• Change of Reading lamp touching from resistive touch to capacitive touch for easy use
• Better roller blind fabric & anti climbing device in Vande Bharat coaches for improved safety.

source: https://cr.indianrailways.gov.in/