The Indian Railways is now focusing on building ‘dedicated passenger corridors’ to cater to the growing passenger demand while increasing the capacity of existing tracks and developing Vande Bharat 4.0 trains, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday.
Vaishnaw announced that these dedicated passenger corridors will be designed for speeds up to 350 kmph, with operational speeds of 320 kmph, fully developed with indigenous technology.
Speaking at the International Railway Equipment Exhibition, Vaishnaw said these corridors will help meet India’s rising travel demand. “With 1.4 billion people, our transportation needs are enormous. We must start building dedicated passenger corridors,” he said.
These tracks will feature advanced signalling systems, modern Operations Control Centres (OCCs), and top-notch safety mechanisms.
The plan is to build about 7,000 km of passenger corridors across India over the next 20 years. The initiative aims to ease congestion, improve punctuality, and make long-distance travel faster and more comfortable for millions of passengers.
Vande Bharat 4.0
Vaishnaw praised the success of the Vande Bharat 3.0 trains, noting they already meet international benchmarks. These trains can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 52 seconds, outperforming many trains in Japan and Europe, while maintaining lower noise and vibration levels.
The minister revealed that the next generation, Vande Bharat 4.0, will be launched within 18 months. The new model will feature enhanced toilets, improved seating, and superior workmanship across coaches. “
Vande Bharat 4.0 should be so advanced in quality and comfort that countries around the world aspire to adopt it,” Vaishnaw said.
Indigenous innovation
Vaishnaw emphasised the government’s commitment to ‘Make in India’ and warned suppliers against compromising on quality. He directed the Railway Board chairman to be ruthless in blacklisting any company found providing substandard products.
He also announced that India’s first hydrogen-powered train, with a 2,400-horsepower engine, has been developed entirely indigenously. “We will not import this technology. We will design it ourselves,” he said.
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