Rourkela-Howrah Vande Bharat Express set for upgrade; Indian Railways to double coaches and capacity

The Rourkela–Howrah Vande Bharat Express is set for a major upgrade, with the Railway Board approving its expansion from 8 coaches to 16.

This move is part of Indian Railways’ broader initiative to expand Vande Bharat services, prompted by consistently high occupancy and peak passenger demand on seven key routes, including the Rourkela–Howrah corridor.

Under the plan, four Vande Bharat trains currently running with 8 coaches across different routes will be doubled to 16 coaches, and three 16-coach services will be further expanded to 20 coaches, while four 8-coach services will be converted into 16-coach rakes.

Doubling Capacity on a Busy Corridor

Introduced as an 8-coach service, the Rourkela–Howrah Vande Bharat has quickly emerged as a high-demand travel option between Odisha’s steel city and Kolkata.

The doubling of coaches to 16 will allow the train to carry twice as many passengers, easing long waiting lists and accommodating the growing rush during festive and peak travel seasons.

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Puri–Howrah: Odisha’s Longest Vande Bharat

Notably, of the six Vande Bharat trains currently running through Odisha, the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express is the state’s longest and largest-capacity service.

It was expanded to 20 coaches in May 2025, and it now operates with 16 AC Chair Cars, two Executive Class coaches, and two crew-cum-chair car coaches. The expansion was aimed at managing heavy demand from tourists and commuters, setting a benchmark for similar upgrades.

Meanwhile, there also lies a strong possibility for the Tatanagar–Puri and the Jeypore–Bhubaneswar Vande Bharat express trains to start their services in the state soon, following demands from locals and strong ridership potential on these routes.

(With inputs from PTI)