Indian Railways PSU eyes Vande Bharat exports on standard-gauge platform

RITES Limited, an Indian Railways Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), is investigating the potential export of Vande Bharat trains on a standard-gauge platform. Since its inception in 2019, Vande Bharat Express trains have transported over 9 crore passengers. Presently, 81 pairs of Vande Bharat services with Chair Car coaches operate on the Indian Railways network.

These trains run on the Broad Gauge railway network, characterized by a rail gauge distance of 1,676 mm, as opposed to the Standard Gauge rail distance of 1,435 mm.

In comparison to semi-high-speed trains in countries like Japan and various European nations, Vande Bharat Express trains accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in approximately 52 seconds. The Ministry of Railways attributes this performance to Vande Bharat's capability to operate on existing railway infrastructure. Rahul Mithal, CMD of RITES, disclosed that the company has begun exploring the feasibility of exporting Vande Bharat trains to overseas markets. Initial dialogues with Indian Railways have commenced to develop a standard-gauge prototype.

Mithal added that discussions are already underway to create a prototype on the standard gauge platform, with the first prototype expected to be developed in the coming months. In October 2025, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that Indian Railways is positioning itself as a significant exporter, working on the next generation of high-speed trains with a focus on international export markets.