Indian Railways’ Vande Bharat freight EMU hits 145 kmph in trials
The 16-coach Freight EMU, built for parcel, e-commerce and cold-chain shipments, has begun month-long trials in Rajasthan. With 397 tonnes of payload capacity, the prototype could support faster intercity fulfilment after regulatory clearance.
What happened
Indian Railways began trials of a Vande Bharat-based Freight EMU in Rajasthan, designed for faster parcel, e-commerce and cold-chain shipments. The 16-coach
Key facts
- 145 kmph top speed
- 16 coaches
- 12 parcel coaches
- 2 refrigerated vans
- 2 non-driving trailer coaches
- 397 tonnes payload capacity
- over 20 tonnes axle load
- 120 kmph initial test speed
- 135 kmph initial test speed
- at least 2 round trips daily
Why this matters
Strategic teams should explore partnerships with rail-linked logistics, cold-chain and last-mile providers to secure early access to intercity high-speed parcel capacity.