Amrit Bharat 2.0: An Affordable Cousin Of Vande Bharat For Economical Rail Travel – News18
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On Friday, News18 visited the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, where one coach each of the sleeper and general class of these latest versions was kept ready for union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to inspect
Speaking to News18, an ICF official said that currently one coach each for the sleeper and general class has been designed and kept for the minister’s inspection. Image/News18
A lot has been asked about what the Indian Railways is planning to deal with the needs of the common man who could not afford the luxurious Vande Bharat trains. Last year, when the ministry introduced the Amrit Bharat trains, a hint was dropped that it was planning something big.
Now the ministry is ready with the 2.0 version of the Amrit Bharat trains, offering better facilities and a feel of Vande Bharat but without air conditioning.
What’s new
On Friday, News18 visited the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, where one coach each of the sleeper and general class of these latest versions was kept ready for union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to inspect.
The colour scheme of the Amrit Bharat trains, fully non-AC, has been kept orange and grey, similar to Vande Bharat sleepers and chaircars.
Among the additional features the train will offer for the base version are one divyangjan (disabled-friendly) toilet in the sleeper coach and a toilet indicator light. The train toilets will also be equipped with an automatic hygiene odour control system in a fibreglass-reinforced plastic modular design.
In terms of improved features for overall train operations, the ICF has added semi-automatic couplers instead of semi-permanent ones for easy attachment and detachment.
The train also has an electro-pneumatic assisted brake system for quick brake application and a fully sealed gangway for quick coupling and decoupling. The trains also have vacuum evacuation systems similar to Vande Bharat trains.
Toilets are built with sheet moulding compound material for maintenance friendliness and better aesthetics.
It also comes with an onboard condition monitoring system (OBCMS) for real-time tracking of wheels and bearings. Internet-based water level indicators have been used in the train to help watering stations and on-board staff.
The train is equipped with external emergency lights to provide basic lighting during emergency situations like derailments and accidents.
Similar to Vande Bharat, each passenger will get a dedicated charging socket with USB A and C-type ports.
The train is also equipped with a public address and passenger information system, along with an emergency system to connect with the loco pilot.
Both the sleeper and general class coaches of the Amrit Bharat train have a foldable snack table, mobile holder, and foldable bottle holder.
The seat and berth design has been improved for a comfortable ride.
Each coach has four toilets—two Indian-style and two Western-style ones.
Speaking to News18, an ICF official said that currently one coach each for the sleeper and general class has been designed and kept for the minister’s inspection.
“The work on version 2.0 of the Amrit Bharat train will be completed in the coming months. In phases, 50 trains will be rolled out in the next two years,” the official said, requesting anonymity.
Under the new plan, the train will have 22 coaches. The Amrit Bharat train can operate at a potential speed of 130 kmph.
Affordable comfort
This addition to Indian Railways will make luxury and comfortable travel affordable to people who find AC-class coaches financially out of reach.
Currently, two Amrit Bharat trains are operating in India—one between Anand Vihar and Darbhanga and another between Malda and Bengaluru. These trains have been in operation since January 2024.
The Anand Vihar Amrit Bharat train costs Rs 600 for sleeper class for the complete journey as against almost Rs 1,500 for an AC third-class ticket.
Similarly, the Amrit Bharat train from Malda will cost Rs 925 as against a third-class ticket of more than Rs 2,100.
The official explained that such a train was important as sometimes the journey becomes very expensive for low-income class groups.
“If a family of four has to travel between Anand Vihar and Malda, an AC third-class journey would cost Rs 6,000. But with the Amrit Bharat train, it is possible for less than Rs 2,500,” the official added.
The version 2.0 has been designed keeping in mind the learnings from the base model, the official said.
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