Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 30: Technical trials of India's first Vande Bharat Freight Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) have commenced, with the prototype cargo train successfully achieving a top speed of 145 kmph during testing in Rajasthan's Kota division.
Developed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, the 16-coach freight train underwent trials on the Kota-Nagda-Sawai Madhopur high-speed corridor, one of Indian Railways' designated routes for testing high-speed rolling stock.
During the initial phase, the train operated at speeds of 120 kmph and 135 kmph before reaching 145 kmph on its return journey, marking the highest speed recorded on the opening day of trials.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of West Central Railway's Kota Division, Saurabh Jain, said the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) is conducting the technical evaluation on the Kota-Nagda-Sawai Madhopur section. The first trial run commenced from Kota to Mahidpur Road early on Wednesday.
The trials will continue for around a month under varying operating conditions. Railway officials will assess the train's speed, braking efficiency, traction, cornering performance, energy consumption, signalling systems, automatic door locking and overall safety, both in empty and fully loaded conditions. At least two trial runs are scheduled each day.
Designed for high-speed freight transportation, the 16-coach rake consists of two refrigerated driving trailer coaches, two non-driving trailer coaches and 12 parcel coaches. The train is equipped with Vande Bharat bogies and has an axle load capacity exceeding 20 tonnes, with a total payload capacity of over 397 tonnes.
The freight train also features refrigerated storage for perishable goods, improved ventilation, advanced braking and propulsion systems, automatic door locking and the indigenous KAVACH train protection system. The doors automatically lock once the train exceeds 5 kmph, and the train cannot move until all doors are securely closed.
Indian Railways expects the Vande Bharat Freight EMU to significantly improve the transportation of e-commerce consignments, parcel services and cold-chain logistics by enabling faster and more reliable cargo movement across the country.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways is also preparing to introduce Vande Bharat sleeper trains on nine routes as part of its ongoing network modernisation plans.