Indian Railways to Extend Vande Bharat Trains Due to Increased Passenger Demand

Indian Railways is gearing up to increase passenger capacity on its flagship Vande Bharat Express by expanding select trains to 20 coaches, as per news reports. The move comes in response to consistently high occupancy rates, which have crossed 100% in the last two fiscal years. Alongside this, production of Vande Bharat sleeper trains is in progress to provide more comfortable long-distance travel options.

Longer Trains To Meet Rising Demand

As per the Economic Times, 3 existing 16-coach Vande Bharat trains will be converted into 20-coach trains, while another four services currently running with 8 coaches will be expanded to 16 coaches. The replacement plan is being carefully designed to match routes with the highest demand.

Current Operations And Occupancy

At present, Indian Railways operates 144 Vande Bharat services across the country. Demand for these trains remains strong, with occupancy reaching 102.01% in FY 2024–25 and rising further to 105.03% in FY 2025–26 (till June 2025). The surge in passenger load justifies the scale-up in capacity, ensuring smoother travel for commuters.

Sleeper Trains Underway

In addition to the coach expansion, work is progressing rapidly on Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. Currently, 10 sleeper rakes are under production. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, has already begun work on 50 additional rakes, while contracts have been awarded to technology partners for the manufacturing of a further 200 sleeper rakes. 

These are expected to significantly enhance passenger comfort on longer routes, bringing a new phase of convenience to Indian Railways.

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Conclusion

By scaling up Vande Bharat trains to 20 coaches and simultaneously rolling out sleeper services, Indian Railways is addressing rising demand while improving passenger experience. With occupancy levels already above 100%, these steps are poised to make travel more efficient and comfortable, reinforcing Vande Bharat’s position as a key pillar of India’s modern rail network.

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