India to export Vande Bharat trains globally within four years, says Railway Minister

India plans to export full Vande Bharat trains to foreign nations within the next three to four years, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Global Exports

Indian Railways has already started exporting some of its complex parts, including propulsion systems and bogies, to countries like Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, and the US. Vaishnaw stated that these trains reflect the government's Make in India and Viksit Bharat vision, as their design and manufacturing happen mostly within the country. The minister flagged off the new Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on Sunday, noting that newer versions improve passenger comfort with advanced couplers to reduce jolts and better features for middle and upper berths.

New Train Route

Union Minister of State V Somanna announced that the 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper train will cover the 1,118-kilometre distance between Bengaluru and Mumbai in roughly 16 hours, cutting travel time by about eight hours. Regular service starts from Mumbai on November 2 and from Bengaluru on November 3, operating six days a week except Mondays. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the new train a major step for rail connectivity that will benefit Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, especially youngsters, IT professionals, and students. The service departs Bengaluru at 7:45 PM to reach Mumbai at 11:55 AM the next day, and leaves Mumbai at 8:10 PM to arrive in Bengaluru by 12:00 PM on Tuesdays. Key stops along the route include Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Guntakal, Solapur, and Pune.

Context

India's indigenous train manufacturing program aims to upgrade national rail infrastructure while building domestic capacity to compete in international markets. High-speed sleeper services are designed to replace traditional overnight train journeys with modern, faster, and more comfortable alternatives across major commercial corridors.