Vande Bharat Creator Reviews Train After 7 Years, Praises Cleanliness but Flags Low Occupancy

Sudhanshu Mani, the engineer behind India’s first indigenous semi-high-speed train, Vande Bharat, recently travelled on it for the first time since its launch in 2019. Taking the Lucknow–Prayagraj route, he praised the train’s exterior design, cleanliness of the Executive Class, improved seating comfort and hygienic food. However, he criticised the “unnecessary” red carpeting and highlighted signs of cost-cutting in fittings, noting that while ride quality and acceleration remain strong, they haven’t improved significantly over the prototype.

Mani expressed disappointment over the poor passenger turnout, pointing out that Executive Class occupancy was under 25%, with Chair Car only half full. He reiterated his long-standing view that the day-train model cannot sustain demand on many routes without a sleeper variant, urging Indian Railways to expedite its rollout. The Vande Bharat maker also took a dig at repeated delays in launching the sleeper version, saying the train continues to rely more on hype than practical suitability for long-distance travel.

He further criticised the Railways for operating the train at 130 kmph, despite it being capable of reaching 160 kmph. Mani said the lower permitted speed makes even routes like Delhi feel too long for a day journey. Reflecting on his seven-year gap in experiencing the train he created, he said his travel rarely aligns with suitable Vande Bharat routes from Lucknow. He hopes the future sleeper version will make long-distance travel truly efficient and comfortable.

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