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Railways to invest Rs 14,000 crore in maintenance depots for Vande Bharat trains

Vande Bharat trains upgrade news: Indian Railways (IR) has planned an investment of Rs 14,000 crore to upgrade and develop new maintenance depots for Vande Bharat trains.

2 min readUpdated: Dec 12, 2025 06:06 PM IST

Vande Bharat upgrade news: Presently, 164 Vande Bharat train services with Chair Cars are running over the IR network. (Image: Ministry of Railways)

Vande Bharat train maintenance depots, Vande Bharat upgrade news: Indian Railways (IR) has planned an investment of Rs 14,000 crore to upgrade and develop new maintenance depots for Vande Bharat trains. Since their introduction in 2019, Vande Bharat trains have transformed rail travel across the country.

In a written statement in the Rajya Sabha on December 12, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that maintenance infrastructure facilities are planned and developed based on the operational and maintenance requirements of Indian Railways.

Also Read | IRCTC starts trials for branded meal service on select Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat trains

“Maintenance Infrastructure facilities are planned and executed as per the operational and maintenance requirement over Indian Railways. Accordingly, new maintenance depots and up-gradation of existing depots with modern infrastructure facilities suitable for Vande Bharat Train sets at a cost of more than ₹ 14,000 Cr. have been planned across Indian Railway network,” Vaishnaw added.

Also Read | Railways upgrades infrastructure at Kamakhya station for upcoming Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat trains

The minister was responding to questions from Rajya Sabha MP Dhananjay Bhimrao Mahadik, who sought details on infrastructure upgrades, maintenance depots and station improvements planned to support the deployment of Vande Bharat trains.

Vande Bharat train

Presently, 164 Vande Bharat train services with Chair Cars are running over the IR network. Recently, the Railways upgraded the infrastructure at Assam’s Kamakhya Junction for the upkeep of upcoming Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Express train services.

Vande Bharat Express train features

Fitted with KAVACH.
Higher acceleration with design/operating speed of 180/160 kmph.
Air conditioning units with indigenously developed UV-C lamp based disinfection system.
Jerk Free Semi-Permanent couplers.
Centrally controlled Automatic Plug Doors and Fully Sealed wider gangways.
Better Ride Comfort.
CCTVs in all Coaches.
Emergency Alarm Push buttons and Talk Back Units on all Coaches.
Improved fire safety – Aerosol based fire detection and suppression system in electrical cabinets and lavatories.
For Divyangjan passengers special lavatory in the driving coaches on each end.
Driver-Guard communication with voice recording facility & Crash hardened memory.
Coach condition monitoring System (CCMS) display with remote monitoring.

Anish Mondal

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

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