CCRS Finishes Inspection of High-Speed Trial-Run of Vande Bharat across Mathura-Nagda Section

Indian Railways has achieved another victory by completing the successful trial run of Vande Bharat train on the Mathura-Nagda section. Its testing was done at its designed speed of 180 kmph on October 8, 2026.

Shri Janak Kumar Garg, Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS), was present to inspect the high-speed trial run of Vande Bharat train that is equipped with an advanced propulsion system. High-speed performance along with operational efficiency and safety parameters was in focus during the process of review. 

According to the Ministry of Railways, the train is intentionally designed to run at the maximum speed of 180 kmph, but the regular service speed would vary due to safety concerns. The daily speed for normal services would fall between the range of 130-160 kmph.

However, the train is set to achieve its highest speed of 180 kilometres in the future once the expectations for safety standards and operating conditions meet adequately.  

Aim for switching to high-speed railways is in attention by the Indian Railways. The Press Release of July 2025 by the Ministry of Railways says that they have redeveloped more than 78% of the tracks for achieving sectional speed of 110 kmph and above. 

What it means for the travellers at Mumbai-Nagda stretch 

The Mumbai-Nagda route is a 568 kilometer long stretch that forms a key part of the Delhi-Mumbai railway corridor and the High-Density Network (HDN-3). It connects parts of  northern and western India through major transit and industrial points including Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Bharatpur (Rajasthan), Kota (Rajasthan), Nagda (Madhya Pradesh), and Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh).

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Once Vande Bharat gets operational, covering such key areas, it will lead to serving more passengers with ease in mobility and better access. 

Steps taken to modernise Vande Bharat coaches for better passenger-accessibility

The train coaches provide ergonomically designed reclining seats for the travellers along with ample legroom. Large panoramic windows are fitted within the window frames to give natural lighting and better outside-view. The environment stays completely air-conditioned for long-hour comfort. Automatic sliding doors, bio-vacuum toilets with lavatories designed for persons with different access demands and a smooth suspension system that reduces jerks and vibrations are also available for smooth travel.

Besides the stated benefits, the following features have also been added to modernise the trains with goals for hassle-free movement:

• KAVACH protection system for safety
• Jerk Free Semi-Permanent couplers
• Fully-sealed wider gangways
• Emergency-alarm push buttons for unprecedented outcomes
• Improved fire safety: Aerosol based fire detection and suppression system in electrical cabinets and lavatories.
• Driver-Guard communication with voice recording facility & Crash hardened memory
• Indigenously developed UV-C lamp based disinfection system¹
• Coach condition monitoring System (CCMS) display with remote monitoring

RCF Kapurthala Witnesses annual boost in production

The Rail Coach Factory, located at Kapurthala (Punjab), has produced the 16-coach Vande Bharat Chair Car set at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. The factory is widely known for designing and manufacturing modern railway coaches, including Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat project. 

In the financial year 2025-’26, the RCF achieved its major annual production of 2,383 coaches. Several countries in Asia and Africa also rely on the factory for train sets, thereby expanding the firm’s growth.

Sleeper expansion for the Vande Bharat coaches

For long-distance routes, Indian Railways is trying to provide a more comfortable journey by extending sleeper trains. Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML Limited) has received an additional order of Rs. 180.60 crore from ICF in September 2026 to design and export 10 Vande Bharat sleeper coaches.

Based on other media reports, it is noted that the sleeper service between KSR Bengaluru and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus had been approved earlier.  

Also Read: Kavach Commissioned on Agra-Dholpur Section by Indian Railways