New Delhi: The Indian Railways has upgraded the Vande Bharat Express train operating between Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central in Gujarat. This premium train has been running with 20 coaches since January 26, 2026. This move by the railways will make 278 additional seats available on the train. The increased number of seats will make it easier for passengers to get tickets.
The country’s 42nd Vande Bharat train was initially running with 16 coaches. However, considering the passenger demand, the railways decided to increase the number of coaches, which is part of its efforts to improve passenger convenience.
Western Railway, which operates and maintains this train service, said in a statement that the additional coaches have been added due to the consistently high passenger traffic on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central route. With the addition of the extra coaches, 278 more passengers can travel on the train, making it easier for passengers to get seats and providing a more comfortable travel experience.
On March 12, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express (22961/22962), which is the country’s 42nd Vande Bharat train. At that time, the train started operating with 16 coaches. Since January 26, this train service has been running with 20 coaches. This train runs on all days of the week except Sunday.
With the upgrade, four additional AC chair car coaches have been added to the train. According to Western Railway, this temporary increase in the number of coaches will continue until March 7, 2026, to accommodate the high passenger demand during this period. The railways said that this step will provide passengers with greater comfort, convenience, and a safer journey on this busy route.
The distance between Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central is 491 kilometers, and the Vande Bharat Express covers this distance in approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes. This train stops at four stations – Vadodara, Surat, Vapi, and Borivali.
