Onboard Vande Bharat - the latest jewel of Indian Railways
One of India's most recent indigenous accomplishments has been the Vande Bharat express. It has been a popular launch and the general reception has been positive. Since its launch, we'd been quite fascinated to see and read about it, and had been on the lookout for an opportunity to travel by it. In July 2026, we finally rode on the Vande Bharat Express from Hyderabad to Bangalore! Here's an account of the experience and how it is largely in stark contrast with the conventional Indian Railways train experience I was familiar with.
Like most railfans, the journey was always defined by the iconic railway sounds - thud-thud from a train speeding on the tracks, food vendors loudly voicing their catchphrases to sell their snacks (ode to the "chayeee coffeee"), the wind whistling through the coach connector vestibules and doors, and the different rattling sounds coming from the thousand nuts and bolts in the coach. On this journey, it seemed as though someone had pressed the mute button on this all. To add to it, the early morning depature meant most folks were asleep the first 2-3 hours. All these factors put together, the entire journey was extremely quiet - it felt a lot like some of the train journeys we had experienced across Europe.
If there was one thing that I missed the most in this new experience, it had to be the thrill of leaning out of the door and feeling the wind in my face as the train sped past the beautiful landscapes. While this train rode faster, that speed was reduced to a number on the screen, with no way to feel it. Coupled with the improved smoothness in the ride, it was very hard to notice the speed.
When the train rolled into the station, it was quite odd to see no engine lead the way. The aerodynamic ends lend it a much more modern look unlike the erstwhile boxy locomotives.
The intent appears clear - to try and give an aircraft-like experience to the customer, directly competing with the airplanes on short to medium-distance travelers. The biggest reflection of the attempt is the airplane-like trolley carts to bring the snacks. The serving staff was also quite polished - well-dressed, well-spoken and much more customer-focused. A few other aspects also make the modernity and enhancements evident - sliding doors between carriages, significantly modern toilets, and automatic closing main doors. While the Tejas Express coaches had brought the automatic closing main doors, the Vande Bharat and its rising popularity means these doors are here to stay. It is a clear win for safety - no questions there. But what about the dreamy romantics wishing for their DDLJ moment? :)
Putting all these differences aside, there was one thing that was preserved. I fondly recall, as a kid, I used to press my face to the window to try and see the engine and front of the train as it curved on every bend. I found myself doing the same here as well!
For someone who has had a gap of many years traveling by train, this experience left a mark - we got to see a totally new version of Indian Railways in 2026!
Like most railfans, the journey was always defined by the iconic railway sounds - thud-thud from a train speeding on the tracks, food vendors loudly voicing their catchphrases to sell their snacks (ode to the "chayeee coffeee"), the wind whistling through the coach connector vestibules and doors, and the different rattling sounds coming from the thousand nuts and bolts in the coach. On this journey, it seemed as though someone had pressed the mute button on this all. To add to it, the early morning depature meant most folks were asleep the first 2-3 hours. All these factors put together, the entire journey was extremely quiet - it felt a lot like some of the train journeys we had experienced across Europe.
If there was one thing that I missed the most in this new experience, it had to be the thrill of leaning out of the door and feeling the wind in my face as the train sped past the beautiful landscapes. While this train rode faster, that speed was reduced to a number on the screen, with no way to feel it. Coupled with the improved smoothness in the ride, it was very hard to notice the speed.
When the train rolled into the station, it was quite odd to see no engine lead the way. The aerodynamic ends lend it a much more modern look unlike the erstwhile boxy locomotives.
The intent appears clear - to try and give an aircraft-like experience to the customer, directly competing with the airplanes on short to medium-distance travelers. The biggest reflection of the attempt is the airplane-like trolley carts to bring the snacks. The serving staff was also quite polished - well-dressed, well-spoken and much more customer-focused. A few other aspects also make the modernity and enhancements evident - sliding doors between carriages, significantly modern toilets, and automatic closing main doors. While the Tejas Express coaches had brought the automatic closing main doors, the Vande Bharat and its rising popularity means these doors are here to stay. It is a clear win for safety - no questions there. But what about the dreamy romantics wishing for their DDLJ moment? :)
Putting all these differences aside, there was one thing that was preserved. I fondly recall, as a kid, I used to press my face to the window to try and see the engine and front of the train as it curved on every bend. I found myself doing the same here as well!
For someone who has had a gap of many years traveling by train, this experience left a mark - we got to see a totally new version of Indian Railways in 2026!
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