Kapurthala Vande Bharat Cleared for 160 km/h Speed
Railway Board approves 160 km/h operation for the first 16-coach Vande Bharat built at Kapurthala RCF. Read about high-speed trials and technical updates.
In a landmark achievement for Indian manufacturing, the Railway Board has officially approved the first 16-coach Vande Bharat chair car manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, Punjab, to operate at speeds of up to 160 km/h. This marks a historic milestone as it is the very first Vande Bharat unit produced outside the traditional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.
High-Speed Trials and Advanced Propulsion
The new trainset features a high-performance propulsion system supplied by the French multinational firm Alstom. To ensure safety and performance, a rigorous high-speed trial was conducted on October 8, 2026, under the supervision of the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS). During this trial, the train reached an impressive speed of 180 km/h on the Mathura–Nagda railway section.
While the platform is technically capable of 180 km/h, the commercial approval has been set at 160 km/h. However, passengers will not see these speeds immediately. Due to current track limitations across the national network, the train will initially be restricted to a maximum speed of 130 km/h.
Strict Safety and Track Standards
To eventually reach the full 160 km/h operational speed, the Indian Railways must ensure that track geometry and safety protocols strictly follow the Indian Railways Permanent Way Manual (IRPWM) of 2024. The operational clearance is supported by a Final Speed Certificate issued by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) on July 21, 2026.
Technical Rectifications and New Motor Testing
Despite the successful speed approval, the Railway Board has issued a directive for immediate technical improvements. A letter dated October 23, 2026, highlighted several areas that require urgent attention before full-scale deployment:
- Driver Display Unit (DDU): The touchscreen in the pilot's cab was found to be malfunctioning.
- Circuit Breakers: The single-pole miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) currently lack clear labeling, which is essential for quick fault detection.
- Fire Safety: Loose protective covers were identified on the onboard fire extinguishers.
Additionally, the board has ordered specialized testing to evaluate the performance of a new 270-kW traction motor. This unit is being compared against the 210–225-kW motors used in previous Vande Bharat models to determine its suitability for high-speed operations.