Indian Railways is taking major steps to address heavy passenger rush and long waiting lists by expanding the capacity of mail and express trains across the country. In a decisive move to improve travel convenience, the Railway Board has officially directed all 17 railway zones to increase train compositions from 22 to 24 coaches. This strategic capacity expansion aims to drastically reduce current waiting lists of 100 to 150 passengers down to just 20 to 25 per train while simultaneously generating additional revenue for the national transporter.
Under the new nationwide directive, different railway zones are already executing operational upgrades and successful trials to accommodate longer rakes. The North Eastern Railway has completed successful mechanical trials by adding two extra coaches to the popular Gorakhpur to LTT Superfast train numbered 20104. Meanwhile, the East Central Railway is actively drafting plans to upgrade 80 trains, with technical feasibility reports requested from the Sonpur and Samastipur divisions regarding platform lengths and pit line capacities. Key trains identified for this transition include the Saptakranti, Bihar Sampark Kranti, Vaishali Express, Ara-Durg South Bihar Express, Capital Express, Ara-Jaynagar Express, Ara-Ranchi Express, Ara-Kolkata Garib Rath Express, and the Buxar-Tatanagar Express.
Modern LHB Upgrades and Coach Configuration Mandates
Alongside rake length increases, infrastructure modernization is moving at a rapid pace. The Northeast Frontier Railway has successfully replaced traditional ICF coaches with modern LHB coaches across 103 long-distance trains, which includes 55 originating services and 48 trains originating from other zones. To effectively manage passenger congestion and prioritize budget-conscious travellers, the Railway Board has mandated a strict new configuration for all 24-coach LHB trains, requiring a minimum of four general unreserved coaches and six to eight sleeper coaches.
Future Vande Bharat Expansion Plans
Looking towards the future of high-speed semi-luxury travel, Indian Railways is manufacturing 50 new 24-coach Vande Bharat sleeper trains at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, with prototypes targeted for launch by the end of 2026. Furthermore, the Railway Board is evaluating the operational and maintenance feasibility of expanding nine major Vande Bharat Express chair car services, including the high-demand Varanasi-New Delhi and New Delhi-Katra routes, from their current 20-coach capacity up to 24 coaches to meet soaring passenger demand.