Beyond Vande Bharat: Indian Railways Plans 220 km/h Trains | Full Details Revealed

Last Updated:April 10, 2026, 15:59 IST

Indian Railways has approved two 220 kmph trainsets, aiming to surpass Vande Bharat speeds and boost modern, high-speed travel with advanced features and improved comfort

Building on the success of the Vande Bharat Express, Indian Railways is preparing to take a significant step forward in semi-high-speed travel. The Railway Board has cleared the production of two advanced trainsets with a design speed of 220 kmph, signalling a strong push towards faster and more efficient rail connectivity across the country.

With manufacturing already underway, these trains are expected to raise the bar in terms of speed, comfort and onboard technology.

Two 220 Kmph Trainsets Get Approval

Indian Railways has approved the development of two new trainsets capable of reaching a design speed of 220 kmph.

According to a report in India Today, the proposal has been sanctioned under the Coach Production Programme for 2027-28, with instructions issued to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai for execution.

Each of these trains will consist of 16 coaches and will be built as broad-gauge trainsets, aligning with India’s existing rail infrastructure.

A Step Ahead Of Vande Bharat

At present, the Vande Bharat Express remains India’s fastest train, with a design speed of 180 kmph.

The upcoming trainsets aim to surpass this benchmark with improved capabilities:

• Design speed: 220 kmph
• Operational speed: Up to 200 kmph

This advancement brings Indian Railways closer to global semi-high-speed standards and represents a clear upgrade over current services.

Make In India Boost Through New Contract

Work on the project has already begun. In October 2024, the Integral Coach Factory awarded a contract to BEML for the design and production of two high-speed trainsets.

Initially, each train will be manufactured with 8 coaches. The estimated cost structure includes:

• Rs 27.86 crore per coach
• Total contract value: Rs 866.87 crore

The contract also covers development expenses, specialised tooling and testing infrastructure, which will support future high-speed train manufacturing in India.

Modern Design And Passenger Comfort

The new trains are expected to feature upgraded design and passenger amenities, including:

• Steel-bodied coaches for enhanced durability
• Fully air-conditioned Chair Car configuration
• Reclining seats for improved comfort
• Advanced onboard passenger systems

These features are aimed at delivering a smoother and more comfortable travel experience while supporting higher speeds.

Part Of A Larger Rail Modernisation Drive

The introduction of 220 kmph trainsets is part of a broader initiative to modernise Indian Railways.

Currently, most trains operate at speeds of up to 160 kmph due to track limitations, and India does not yet have operational services exceeding 200 kmph.

However, with the development of these new trainsets alongside dedicated high-speed testing infrastructure, Indian Railways is steadily moving towards faster and more advanced travel solutions in the coming years.

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