New-Generation Trains, Bullet Rail Progress, Kavach Safety System and Amrit Bharat Station Scheme Drive India’s Largest Rail Infrastructure Transformation

Key Highlights

• 162 Vande Bharat Chair Car and 2 Vande Bharat Sleeper services operational across India.
• 72 Amrit Bharat train services (36 pairs) offering affordable travel for low- and middle-income passengers.
• India’s first hydrogen-powered train, NaMo Green Rail, launched on July 17, 2026.
• Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project records major progress with land acquisition completed and civil works advancing rapidly.
• Seven new High-Speed Rail corridors announced in Union Budget 2026-27.
• Kavach Version 4.0 operational on 2,490 route kilometres covering major Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors.
• 1,340 railway stations identified under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with 261 stations already completed.
• ₹11,972 crore allocated for passenger amenities during FY 2026-27.

Indian Railways is undertaking one of its most ambitious modernisation programmes, combining next-generation trains, advanced safety systems, high-speed rail corridors and large-scale station redevelopment to improve passenger experience while strengthening India’s transport infrastructure.

According to information shared by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha, the transformation focuses on safety, speed, passenger comfort, sustainability and indigenous technology development.

Vande Bharat Network Expands Across India

Indian Railways has significantly expanded its flagship Vande Bharat network, with 162 Chair Car services (81 pairs) and two Sleeper services now operational.

Designed and manufactured in India, the trains feature:

• Kavach Automatic Train Protection system
• Semi-permanent jerk-free couplers
• Automatic plug doors
• CCTV surveillance across coaches
• Fire detection and suppression systems
• UV-C air purification technology
• Emergency communication systems
• Divyangjan-friendly coach facilities
• Operating speeds up to 160 kmph (design speed 180 kmph)

The Vande Bharat Sleeper variant, introduced for long-distance travel, entered commercial service in January 2026 and offers upgraded sleeping coaches, crashworthy design, regenerative braking and enhanced onboard passenger amenities.

Affordable Connectivity Through Amrit Bharat Trains

To cater to budget-conscious travellers, Indian Railways has expanded its Amrit Bharat network to 72 train services (36 pairs).

These fully non-AC trains combine affordability with modern passenger comforts, including:

• Improved sleeper berths
• CCTV cameras
• USB charging ports
• Fire suppression systems
• Better-designed toilets
• Enhanced pantry facilities
• Emergency talk-back systems
• Divyangjan-friendly coaches

The initiative is aimed at improving long-distance travel for low- and middle-income families while maintaining higher safety standards.

Hydrogen Train Marks Green Mobility Milestone

In a major technological breakthrough, Indian Railways launched its first hydrogen-powered train, NaMo Green Rail, on 17 July 2026.

The train has been developed entirely in India and is currently described as the world’s longest hydrogen-powered broad gauge train with:

• 10 coaches
• 2,400 kW power output
• Zero carbon emissions, producing only water vapour
• Indigenous hydrogen propulsion technology

The project represents India’s push towards cleaner railway transportation and alternative energy adoption.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Progresses

Construction of the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor continues to gather pace.

Key progress includes:

• Complete acquisition of 1,389.5 hectares of land
• Construction of 452 km of piers
• 356 km of girders completed
• 209 km of track bed completed
• 190 km of overhead equipment mast installation
• 4.8 km of the under-sea tunnel completed in Maharashtra

The government has also announced seven additional High-Speed Rail corridors in Budget 2026-27 connecting major economic centres including Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Varanasi and Siliguri.

Kavach and AI Strengthen Railway Safety

Railway safety continues to receive significant investment through advanced technologies.

Major initiatives include:

• Kavach Version 4.0 commissioned across 2,490 route kilometres
• AI-based Machine Vision Inspection System (MVIS) for detecting defects
• Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD)
• Integrated Track Monitoring Systems using AI and image processing
• Modern electronic signalling across thousands of stations
• Automatic Block Signalling on 7,464 route km

The ministry said these technologies are improving operational safety while reducing human intervention in train operations.

1,340 Stations Being Redeveloped

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, Indian Railways has identified 1,340 stations for redevelopment.

So far:

• 261 stations have been completed.
• Major works are progressing at stations including Bhubaneswar, Gaya, Nagpur, Tirupati, Rameswaram and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Redeveloped stations include upgraded waiting areas, wider foot overbridges, lifts, escalators, executive lounges, multimodal transport integration, improved passenger information systems and enhanced accessibility for Divyangjan passengers.

For FY 2026-27, the Railways has allocated ₹11,972 crore under the Customer Amenities head, with ₹4,633 crore already spent by June 2026.

Railway Crossing Safety Improves

Indian Railways has also accelerated the elimination of level crossings.

Highlights include:

• 14,451 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) constructed between 2014 and May 2026, compared with 4,148 during 2004-2014.
• 4,993 ROB/RUB projects are currently sanctioned across India with an estimated investment of ₹1.17 lakh crore.
• All unmanned broad-gauge level crossings were eliminated in 2019.

Hospitality & Tourism Impact

The continued modernisation of Indian Railways is expected to provide a major boost to India’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem. The expansion of Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat services improves access to religious, leisure and business destinations while reducing travel time between cities. Redeveloped railway stations are emerging as integrated transport hubs with better passenger amenities, retail spaces and multimodal connectivity, creating new opportunities for hotels, restaurants, travel operators and local businesses. Meanwhile, progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train and the announcement of seven new high-speed corridors are expected to stimulate tourism, investment and regional economic growth over the coming decade.