- By Akansha Pandey
- Mon, 18 Aug 2025 08:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Traveling on the Vande Bharat Express offers a unique experience that almost every Indian would love to have. The Vande Bharat Express is a masterpiece of India's indigenous technology and engineering, launched in the year 2019. Designed and manufactured entirely in India, the train is a crowning achievement of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.
A total of 144 Vande Bharat trains are running across the country and connect major cities and remote regions. The train reduces up to 40 per cent of travel time in comparison to the conventional trains.
Vande Bharat Express Train Speed, Key Features
The Vande Bharat train is capable of running at a maximum speed of 180 km/h and reduces travel time between major cities by a huge margin. The interiors have been modernised keeping passenger comfort in mind. Here’s a look at some of the key features:
- Automated doors
- Wifi for passengers
- GPS-based passenger information system
- For safety, it has state-of-the-art anti-collision system KAVACH
- Automatic fire detection.
The train is also environment-friendly; its regenerative braking system converts the energy generated during braking into electricity, saving energy.
Difference Between EC and CC in Vande Bharat
When considering to travel by Vande Bharat, a question often arises: which ticket to book - EC (Executive Chair Car) or CC (AC Chair Car)? While the ticket price is a factor, the desire for a comfortable and pleasant journey often outweighs the cost. Your choice between EC and CC might also depend on whether you are taking a short or a long trip. This decision can shape your entire travel experience.
With more Vande Bharat routes being added across the country, from coastal regions to mountain passes, choosing the right class is more important than ever. Whether you're a first-time traveler or a regular commuter, knowing all about Vande Bharat Express can help you understand the difference between CC and EC and have a better journey.
CC ( Chair Car): Practical and Economical Travel
Seating arrangement: It has a 3x2 seating layout. It is designed to be space-efficient and is comfortable, but can feel a little compact.
Who is best suited for: It is the best option for short to medium distance journeys where travellers value practicality over luxury.
Budget: It is an economical and perfect option for budget-conscious travellers.
Amenities: You get all the basic amenities like air conditioning, charging ports, infotainment screens and clean interiors.
Ambience: A higher number of seats creates a lively and buzzy ambience, which is great for families and those travelling in groups.
Availability: Having more seats in each coach increases the chances of getting a ticket, however, these seats get filled up very quickly on popular routes.
EC( Executive Chair Car): Comfortable and Premium Journey
Seating Arrangement: It has a 2x2 seating layout with wider seats. This gives passengers extra legroom and better recline.
Ideal for: It is a great option for long journeys or business trips where comfort and a premium experience are the priority.
Price and Services: The fare is 50-60 per cent higher than Chair Car (CC). For this increased price, you get extra comfort, better food options and premium services, making it attractive for business travellers and those who want more space.
Experience: Comfortable seats, quiet cabins and lounge facilities at select stations make it almost a business class experience in flight.
Ambience: Fewer seats in a coach means you get more personal space, making the ambience quieter and the journey more private.
Availability: Since the number of seats is limited, these tend to fill up very quickly, especially on sightseeing or commercial routes.
Facilities In Vande Bharat Trains
Food Facilities
The catering arrangements in Vande Bharat Express enhance the travel experience, especially on long journeys. The standard of food varies in both the classes of the train.
The chair car (CC) serves functional food, which includes tea-coffee, packaged snacks and a normal vegetarian or non-vegetarian meal depending on the duration of the journey. On the other hand, the menu in the Executive Class (EC) is quite elaborate. In this, passengers are given a welcome drink, hot breakfast, fresh fruits and several options for the main meal. On some premium routes, the food in the EC class is similar to the business class of an airline, where a variety of dishes are served.
Usually, on long distance journeys, the cost of food is included in the ticket price, while on short journeys it can also be chosen as an additional service.
Onboarding And Luggage Facilities
Luggage allowance is the same for both classes, with overhead racks and under-seat space available for smaller bags. Larger suitcases can be stored near the coach entrances. Vande Bharat trains are also equipped with wheelchair-friendly spaces, clean and touch-free toilets, charging points at every seat, and GPS-based information screens displaying real-time updates. This consistency in facilities across CC and EC means the main difference comes down to seating comfort and onboard service.
How To Book Vande Bharat Tickets?
You can reserve your seat on the Vande Bharat Express through the IRCTC website, mobile app or any railway booking counter. Tatkal booking facility is also available for this train, however, these seats get sold out very quickly on popular routes.
During booking, the IRCTC platform shows you the seat layout of each class, allowing you to choose a window or aisle seat as per your preference. A special tip: If you are travelling on a beautiful and scenic route, then taking a window seat in Executive Class (EC) can be a great experience for you as the rotating seats offer a full view of the outside view.
Longest Route Of Vande Bharat
The recently launched Ajni (Nagpur)-Pune Vande Bharat service has claimed the title of India's longest Vande Bharat route with a distance of 881 km. Flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 10, 2025, the train has broken the previous record of New Delhi-Varanasi route.
The train connects central and western Maharashtra and completes its journey in about 12 hours. With an average speed of 73 km/hr, it is not only the longest but also the fastest train on its route. The service will be available six days a week and will stop at major stations like Wardha, Akola, Bhusaval and Ahmednagar.
Vande Bharat Express In Two colours
After the tremendous success with its blue and white identity, Indian Railways decided to give a new and attractive look to the Vande Bharat Express. Now the state-of-the-art train is being produced on a new colour theme of orange and grey. Not only the exterior, but many important upgrades have also been done inside the train to enhance the comfort and safety of passengers.
The new features include better cushioned seats, more reclining angle of seats, better footrest in executive class, deeper wash basins and better toilet lighting. Along with this, reading lamps have also been installed with easy capacitive touch, better fabric on windows and 'anti-climbing' devices for safety.
Vande Bharat’s Future Plan
Vande Bharat's future plan includes sleeper trains for overnight journeys and expanding the Vande Bharat network. Under this plan, several new routes like Bengaluru-Hyderabad, Delhi-Jaipur and Kolkata-Patna are set to be included. This expansion has a dual objective: first, to cover the high-demand travel corridors of the country and second, to create tourist-centric routes showcasing India's cultural and natural heritage.