Rail Coach Factory’s Innovations: From Amrit Bharat to Vande Bharat and New High-Speed Vehicles – Minister Ravneet Singh’s Visit Highlights Major Developments

The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) is setting new standards in railway coach manufacturing with its latest innovations, according to S. Ravneet Singh, Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries. During his maiden visit to the RCF in Kapurthala, Singh highlighted several significant advancements.

The RCF is spearheading the production of “Amrit Bharat” coaches, designed to enhance travel for the common man with improved comfort, safety, and modern amenities at affordable prices. This year, RCF plans to roll out over 50 Amrit Bharat trains, including five rakes with 22 coaches each. These coaches will feature enhanced aesthetics, better berth designs, CCTV surveillance, improved LED lighting, a fire suppression system, foldable snack tables, bottle holders, mobile chargers, and external LED lights for emergency situations.

Additionally, the RCF is advancing India’s high-speed rail capabilities with the development of “Vande Bharat” and “Vande Metro” trains. The first Vande Metro rake, capable of speeds up to 130 km/h, is set to launch soon, promising a new experience for short-distance rail travelers. It will include features such as route map indicators, CCTV, accessible passenger toilets, emergency communication systems, and collision avoidance technology. The RCF will also manufacture two Vande Bharat rakes with a top speed of 160 km/h this year.

Singh also praised RCF’s contribution to the Jammu-Baramulla Railway Line, an essential project linking Kashmir Valley with Jammu and the rest of India. The factory has successfully produced coaches designed to withstand sub-zero temperatures, incorporating self-regulating heating cables, insulation systems, and high-capacity AC units. Two rakes have already been dispatched for this route, with a third nearing completion.

In addition, RCF is designing a 160 km/h Safe Speed Accident Relief Vehicle (SPART) and a 130 km/h Safe Speed Induction Car (SPIC). The design phase is complete, with construction set to begin soon, aiming for completion by the end of the year. These vehicles will feature advanced traction systems and high reliability.

RCF is also working on narrow gauge coaches with panoramic Vistadome features for the Kalka-Shimla Toy Train, set to enhance the scenic journey through Himachal Pradesh. The trial runs have been successful, and the 7-coach train will soon be operational.

Finally, Singh announced that the Railway Board has increased RCF’s production target to 2,401 coaches for 2024-25. Recently, RCF marked a significant milestone by manufacturing its 45,000th coach, with the 50,000th coach expected to follow soon.