What’s inside:
The Rourkela–Howrah Vande Bharat Express is expanding from 8 to 16 coaches to meet rising passenger demand.
The Rourkela–Howrah Vande Bharat Express is getting a big upgrade. The Railway Board has approved increasing its coaches from 8 to 16. This is happening because many people want to travel on this route, especially during busy times.
As part of a larger plan, several other Vande Bharat trains will also see their coach numbers increased. Some trains currently with 8 coaches will be upgraded to 16, while others with 16 coaches will move up to 20. This will help meet the demand across various routes.
With the expansion to 16 coaches, the Rourkela–Howrah train can now carry double the number of passengers. This will help reduce long waiting lists and make it easier for travelers during peak travel times, especially around festivals.
Currently, Odisha has six Vande Bharat trains. Among them, the Puri-Howrah train is the longest and has the highest capacity. It was updated to 20 coaches in May 2025 and is designed to handle heavy passenger demand efficiently.
Looking ahead, there are plans for new Vande Bharat trains, such as the Tatanagar–Puri and the Jeypore–Bhubaneswar routes, to start service soon. Local demand has been strong, and these routes are expected to attract many passengers.
Summary:
- The Rourkela–Howrah Vande Bharat Express is upgrading to 16 coaches.
- This change is due to high demand from passengers.
- The train will now carry double the number of travelers.
- Odisha’s Puri-Howrah train is the longest Vande Bharat service.
- New train routes may start soon in response to local requests.