West Central Railway’s Kota Division has successfully completed all technical trials of a 16-coach Vande Bharat chair car train set.
The trials took place on sections under the Kota Division, including the Kota–Sawai Madhopur rail corridor. An expert team from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation supervised the entire process.
Railway officials said the tests covered pantograph current collection, contact wire uplift, signalling systems and telecommunications. The team also checked the braking system, ride quality and track stability under different operating conditions. All technical parameters met the required standards.
The RDSO team declared the trial campaign a complete success. Officials from the Kota Division received appreciation for their coordination and technical work during the testing programme.
The 16-coach train set was manufactured by Rail Coach Factory in collaboration with Alstom and Webtech. It is designed to carry more passengers than the standard eight-coach Vande Bharat rakes currently in service. Once cleared, the longer formation will increase seating capacity on busy routes.
The train now awaits final approval from the Railway Board. After clearance, Indian Railways plans to introduce it into commercial service on selected routes. The additional coaches will help meet rising demand for modern, air-conditioned travel.
Vande Bharat trains form a key part of Indian Railways’ modernisation programme under the Make in India initiative. These semi-high-speed trains feature advanced propulsion systems, sealed gangways, automatic doors and improved passenger amenities. West Central Railway’s Kota Division has been a regular venue for high-speed trials because of its suitable track conditions and experienced technical teams.
