Railway conducts trial of Vande Bharat sleeper train on Ahmedabad – Mumbai route

Ahmedabad: The Vande Bharat Sleeper train successfully completed its trial run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai on Friday, achieving an operational speed of 130 kmph.

The train departed Ahmedabad at 9:20 am, reached Surat by 11:20 am, and arrived at Mumbai Central around 1:30 pm,, covering the entire Ahmedabad–Mumbai stretch in roughly four hours. Railway officials said the performance during the 130 kmph trial run was satisfactory.

The trial was conducted using the second 16-coach rake, equipped with specially modified bogies, and operated by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO). After the successful run on November 14, the Railway Board and RDSO plan to conduct additional technical checks and COCR (Confirmatory Oscillograph Car Run) trials.

Western Railway officials said the rake was stationed in the Ahmedabad pit line on November 14 for equipment installation, calibration, and magneto phone setup. A special COCR trial is scheduled for November 15 on the Ahmedabad–Vadodara–Mumbai Central section at a top speed of 130 kmph, followed by a return-direction COCR run on November 16. Officers from multiple departments, including Operations, Mechanical, Engineering, Electrical, S&T, and Security, will accompany the RDSO team during the two-day exercise.

Notably, this is only a trial run of the Vande Bharat sleeper version. According to Western Railway officials, the Railway Board will decide the route or zone where this train will be deployed. DeshGujarat