Vande Bharat Freight Train Undergoes 130 kmph Trials on Ahmedabad-Mumbai Route

Ahmedabad: The Vande Bharat Freight Train is undergoing confirmatory trials on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai railway section this weekend, with the rake being tested at a maximum speed of 130 kmph.

The trials, being conducted by the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO), began on September 12 and are scheduled to continue on September 13. The two-day trial programme covers the Ahmedabad (ADI)-Vadodara (BRC)-Mumbai Central (MMCT) section and the return journey.

According to an official railway communication dated September 11, the Vande Bharat Freight EMU rake is being tested for its proposed use in super-fast parcel services. The trial is being conducted with a 50% payload and a 20.32-tonne axle load.

On September 13, the rake is scheduled to run from Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad, departing at 9 am. The trial programme aims to assess whether the rake can achieve a maximum section speed of 130 kmph, subject to the Permanent Speed Restrictions (PSRs) and Temporary Speed Restrictions (TSRs) along the route.

Instrumentation work on the freight rake is being carried out by an RDSO team with assistance from the Mechanical, Electrical and Signalling & Telecommunications departments of the Ahmedabad division.

Railway authorities have made arrangements for the rake’s fitness, watering and cleaning, crew deployment and round-the-clock security during the trials. A competent crew, including a guard, Chief Loco Inspector, Train Inspector and Permanent Way Inspector, has also been deputed.

Based on the Vande Bharat series, the 16-coach Vande Bharat Freight EMU has been designed to transport parcels and other goods at high speeds. Developed by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the rake features advanced propulsion and braking systems and is designed to facilitate faster and more efficient loading and transportation of freight.

The rake is equipped with a special roller-floor system to facilitate parcel loading, along with automatic wide sliding doors for easier handling of consignments. It also has temperature-controlled (reefer) facilities, making it suitable for transporting temperature-sensitive goods.

Other features include CCTV surveillance and fire detection systems aimed at improving safety and security during freight operations.

The Vande Bharat Freight rake has previously undergone high-speed trials in the West Central Railway (WCR) zone, where it clocked 145 kmph on the Chaumahla-Shamgarh-Gurla section of the Nagda-Kota-Sawai Madhopur route. The trial was conducted in an empty condition, with RDSO and ICF teams monitoring the rake’s performance.

The ongoing Ahmedabad-Mumbai trials are expected to provide further operational data on the Vande Bharat Freight EMU and its suitability for high-speed parcel and freight movement on the Western Railway network.

The trials are part of efforts to assess the feasibility of using the Vande Bharat platform for faster freight and parcel services, particularly on the busy Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor.

DeshGujarat