- By Shubham Bajpai
- Sun, 27 Jul 2025 07:46 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Vande Bharat Express has emerged as one of the most preferred Indian Railways trains for passengers. While it has provided a comfortable and luxurious travel experience across the routes in India, it has also reduced the travel time significantly, which is one of the main reasons for its wide popularity among travellers.
Since its first inauguration in 2019, the train has seen full occupancy on all routes. At present, there are 140 Vande Bharat Express trains running across the country.
However, the semi-high-speed train's speed has decreased in the past few years. The reason for it was explained by the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while replying to a written question in the Rajya Sabha.
NCP MP raises question
NCP's Rajya Sabha MP Dr Fauzia Khan sought clarification from Vaishnaw on whether the government is aware that the average speed of Vande Bharat has reduced from 84.48 kmph in 2020-21 to 76.25 kmph in 2023-24 due to incomplete track upgradation and infrastructural constraints.
ALSO READ: Meerut-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express To Halt At THIS Station; Know Route, Other Details
She also asked about the steps taken by the Indian Railways to expedite track modernisation to help the semi-high-speed train run at its designated speeds.
Vaishnaw responds
Responding to the question, Vaishnaw, in a written reply on Friday, said, "The Vande Bharat trains presently running over the Indian Railway network are semi-high-speed train services with a design speed of 180 kmph and maximum operating speed of 160 kmph."
He added that the average speed of the train depends on various factors like tracks, stoppages, etc. "The average speed of the train depends upon the geometry of the track, stoppages en route, maintenance work in the section, etc," he said.
Vaishnaw added that in the last 10 years, the upgradation and improvement of railway tracks on Indian Railways have been carried out at a big scale. "The measures for track upgradation include use of 60 kg rails, wider base concrete sleepers, thick web switches, longer rail panels, H Beam sleepers, modern track renewal and maintenance machines etc," the railway minister said.