Vande Bharat train latest update: The Railway Board has approved the introduction of an Alstom-powered Vande Bharat Chair Car trainset manufactured at Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, for speeds of up to 160 kmph on the Indian Railways network. However, this is subject to specified safety and operational conditions.

According to a Railway Board letter, the approval covers a 16-car Vande Bharat trainset equipped with an Alstom propulsion system. The trainset must operate on tracks meeting the prescribed standards under the Indian Railways Permanent Way Manual (IRPWM), 2024, including track geometry requirements for a maximum speed of 160 kmph.

The approval follows recommendations and technical clearances from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS).

The Board has stipulated that zonal railways must comply with the conditions laid down in the final speed certificate before introducing the trainset.…