Indian Railways has begun confirmatory trial runs of the country’s first Vande Bharat Freight Train on the Ahmedabad–Mumbai route, marking a major step towards modernising and speeding up freight transportation in India.
The trials of the 16-coach Vande Bharat Freight Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) rake commenced on 12 September 2026 and continued on 13 September. Conducted by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the tests are being carried out on the Ahmedabad (ADI)–Vadodara (BRC)–Mumbai Central (MMCT) section and the return journey.
The rake is being tested at a maximum section speed of 130 kmph, subject to permanent and temporary speed restrictions on the route.
Trials are being conducted with a 50% payload and a 20.32-tonne axle load.
The train departed Ahmedabad around 9 am on the first day for Mumbai Central, with a through path provided by Western Railway. The return run from Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad is scheduled for the following day.
Instrumentation and monitoring are being handled by an RDSO team with support from the Mechanical, Electrical, and Signalling & Telecommunications departments of the Ahmedabad Division.
Built by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the Vande Bharat Freight EMU is based on the successful Vande Bharat passenger train technology. Key features include:
Advanced propulsion and braking systems
Special roller floor system for easier and faster loading of palletised cargo
Automatic wide sliding doorsTemperature-controlled facilities suitable for sensitive goods
CCTV surveillance and fire detection systems for cargo security
The train is designed for a maximum operational speed of 160 kmph. In regular service, it is expected to operate at an average speed of 80–90 kmph — significantly higher than the 60–70 kmph typical of conventional freight trains.
