Railway to ramp up 1500 Vande Bharat chair car coaches’ production; may benefit Odisha

The Indian Railways has decided to continue large-scale production of Vande Bharat chair car coaches, reversing its earlier plan to cap manufacturing at 120 train sets. The move could directly benefit states like Odisha, with six Vande Bharat Express trains currently operating in and through the state.

According to a fresh Railway Board order, 1,500 Vande Bharat chair car coaches, equivalent to 88 rakes, will be manufactured over four years from 2026-27 to 2029-30. Of these, 720 coaches will be produced at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, while the remaining units will be built at Kapurthala and Raebareli.

Railway officials indicated that the expanded production will support the phased replacement of ageing Shatabdi Express trains operating on intercity routes, many of which serve or connect eastern states, including Odisha. 

With Odisha already emerging as a key hub for Vande Bharat operations, the decision is expected to strengthen high-speed daytime connectivity within the state and to the neighbouring regions.

Also Read: Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat sleeper train: Key features and more explained

Of the planned rakes, 68 will be 16-car formations, and 20 will be 20-car sets, designed for a maximum speed of 160 kmph and optimised for short- to medium-distance intercity travel routes where Odisha has seen rising passenger demand.

As of December last year, around 96 Vande Bharat chair car rakes had been manufactured, with 82 currently in service across various railway zones, including those operating through Odisha. Several additional rakes have already been allotted to different zones and are awaiting commissioning.