No more shunting: Indian Railways plans more Vande Bharat model push-pull trains

Indian Railways is planning a major shift in its operations by rolling out more Vande Bharat-style train sets and Amrit Bharat trains equipped with engines at both ends. This proposed overhaul aims to streamline long-distance travel across the country, according to discussions held during a high-level meeting of Principal Chief Mechanical Engineers from various railway zones.

If the Railway Board greenlights the new proposals, the transition will gain rapid momentum. Under the new strategy, the manufacturing of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) stainless steel coaches will be phased out in a structured manner. Future long-distance services will exclusively feature self-propelled or push-pull train sets, similar to the Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat models.

Phasing out ICF coaches by 2028
As an immediate precursor to this overhaul, Indian Railways plans to replace all remaining traditional ICF (Integral Coach Factory) coaches with LHB coaches by 2027–28. Concurrently, a new third-generation variant of the Amrit Bharat trains, featuring air-conditioned coaches, will be rolled out nationwide. To enhance existing services, there are also proposals to attach locomotives to both ends of current LHB trains to eliminate the time-consuming shunting process.

Efficiency gains and design changes
Operating trains in a push-pull configuration significantly boosts efficiency by eliminating the need to reverse locomotives at railway yards and terminal stations. These fixed 22-coach formations offer superior acceleration and enhanced passenger safety, though they limit the flexibility to add or remove individual coaches. Additionally, the board is considering design modifications for Vande Bharat chair cars, which could include removing the rotating seat feature in executive class to accommodate an extra row of seating and increase passenger capacity.