Jogeshwari to have dedicated coaching centre for Vande Bharat trains on Western Railway

The project aims to construct an integrated coaching terminal complex as per international standards

The Indian Railways has sanctioned a new and ambitious coaching terminus at Jogeshwari on the Western Railway, at a cost of R69 crore. The coaching centre, where trains will be maintained, repaired and renewed, may primarily be used for the upkeep of the new Vande Bharat class trains, that are scheduled to start soon.

The project aims to construct an integrated coaching terminal complex as per international standards. The Vande Bharat train sets will be maintained by a dedicated technology partner, who will also manufacture them at select railway factories.

The present yard at Jogeshwari has ample space and is in the mainline and can be adequately developed as a train set depot hub for the new class of trains, independent of the existing operations.

The train set depot will be equipped with all modern facilities, including an inspection bay with minimum two Lines of 16/20 car length with 3-tier arrangement to enable simultaneous inspection and maintenance of the under-frame, interiors and the roof of the train. There will also be a provision to facilitate repair or replacement of bogies, wheels, traction; washing and heavy cleaning facilities, battery charging and other maintenance facilities.

Indian Railways has been working on a plan to operate 75 Vande Bharat trains by the end of this year across the country on prominent routes. The manufacturing of Vande Bharat express trains has been started by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

Vande Bharat Express is designed to be capable of running at a maximum speed of 200 km/h (120 mph), but the tracks on which the train operates are not capable of supporting such high speeds, hence the train is operated at a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). During the trials it achieved a record speed of 180 km/h (110 mph). This made it one of the fastest trains to run in India.