Vande Bharat 16-coach train completes 180 kmph trial on Mathura-Nagda route; check the new chair car's features

Indian Railways' 16-coach Vande Bharat chair car trainset successfully completed a high-speed trial run at 180 kmph on the Mathura–Nagda section on October 8. 2026. The trial was conducted under the supervision of the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS), according to the Ministry of Railways.

“The 16-coach Vande Bharat Chair Car trainset manufactured at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, successfully completed a high-speed trial at 180 kmph on the Mathura–Nagda section on 8 October 2026, under the supervision of the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety,” the X (formerly Twitter) post read.

The new Vande Bharat chair car has been manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, Punjab. The introduction of the new trainset and the completion of its trial mark another step in the development of Vande Bharat trains, as Indian Railways seeks to modernise passenger rail services.

“Equipped with an advanced propulsion system, the trainset was assessed for high-speed performance, operational efficiency and safety, a milestone in India's modern railway manufacturing journey,” the post noted.

Vande Bharat train features

The new Vande Bharat trainset features reclining seats with more legroom, along with large panoramic windows that allow passengers to enjoy better views and natural light. It also has zero-discharge bio-vacuum toilets, which prevents waste from being discharged onto the rail tracks.

The train also comes with automatic sliding doors, and a smooth suspension system that reduces jerks and vibrations, making the journey more comfortable for passengers.

Its air-conditioned coaches are equipped with a temperature-control system that adjusts cooling based on passenger occupancy to maintain comfortable conditions throughout the journey. The trainset also features specially designed toilets which are accessible to wheelchair users and passengers with disabilities.

However, completing a trial at 180 kmph does not necessarily mean the train will operate at that speed while passengers are travelling in it. As of now, the new Vande Bharat train will run at a speed of 130 to 160 kmph, before it eventually reaches speeds of 180 kmph, according to a report by NDTV.

RCF Kapurthala records highest coach production

As per the news report, RCF Kapurthala had achieved its highest-ever annual production of 2,383 coaches in the financial year 2025-26. The factory is considered a crucial centre for modern railway coach manufacturing as it contributes to the development advanced trainsets, as well as producing modern coaches for advanced trains such as Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat.

RCF’s manufacturing capabilities have also received recognition beyond borders, with railway coaches exported to several countries across Asia and Africa. Until now, all Vande Bharat trains have been manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Vande Bharat sleeper expansion

Indian Railways is also looking to expand the Vande Bharat sleeper fleet by introducing it on more long-distance routes. BEML said it is developing and supplying 10 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets, while additional trainsets are reportedly being planned through other manufacturers and production units.

A Vande Bharat sleeper service between KSR Bengaluru and Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus was approved earlier, as per media reports.

BEML has reportedly secured an additional order worth about ₹180.60 crore from Integral Coach Factory in September 2026 for manufacturing and supplying Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets.

About the Author

For about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geopolitics. We bring the latest updates on all the listed companies on BSE and NSE, startups, mutual funds, Union ministries, geopolitics, and untapped human interest stories from around the world, helping our readers to stay informed on the latest developments around the globe. Our Coverage Areas 1. Companies: Comprehensive news and analysis on listed and unlisted companies, corporate announcements, corporate chatter, C-suite, business trends, hiring alerts, layoffs, work-life balance, world's top billionaires and richest and more. 2. Personal finance: Insights into mutual funds, small savings schemes like - PPF, SSY, post office savings scheme, stock to watch, personal loans, credit cards, top bank FDs, real estate, income tax and more. 3. Politics: Comprehensive coverage of general elections, state elections and bypolls, Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Parliament, PMO, PIB, finance ministry, home ministry, among other union ministries and government departments. 4. National News: From metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and e to untapped stories from rural India, we cover human interest, health, education, crime and courts, and law and order, among other areas of public interest. 5. Economy: In-depth analysis of India's macro and micro-economic indicators like- GDP, inflation, forex, fiscal deficit, current account deficit, interest rate cycle, economic recovery, RBI circulars, indirect taxes, GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy imports, exports and everything that impacts Indian economy. 6. Geopolitics: Well-rounded and deeply researched coverage on US News, Oval Office European Union, Ukraine Russia War, middle-east crisis, royal families and global leaders like - Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping and premiers of other leading economies in the world. Meet the Team 1. Gulam Jeelani, Political Affairs Editor 2. Sugam Singhal, Senior Assistant Editor 3. Chanchal, Assistant Editor 4. Sanchari Ghosh, Chief Content Producer 5. Pratik Prashant Mukane, Chief Content Producer 6. Sayantani Biswas, Chief Content Producer 7. Ravi Hari, Deputy Chief Content Producer 8. Garvit Bhirani, Deputy Chief Content Producer 9. Akriti Anand, Senior Content Producer 10. Jocelyn Felix Fernandes, Senior Content Producer 11. Swastika Das Sharma, Content Producer 12. Mausam Jha, Content Producer 13. Riya R Alex, Trainee Content Producer