Ahmedabad is set to get a dedicated maintenance hub for Vande Bharat Express trains, allowing major repairs and scheduled overhauls to be carried out locally instead of sending trainsets to other locations. The Rs 307 crore facility is being developed at Sabarmati and will bring several key maintenance operations under one roof, according to a TOI report. The project is part of Phase II of the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot and is being undertaken by the Ahmedabad division of Western Railway. The facility is designed to handle scheduled maintenance of 24-coach Vande Bharat trainsets as the network of the semi-high-speed trains expands.
Vande Bharat maintenance hub in Sabarmati: What facilities will it have?
The maintenance hub will feature dedicated sheds for heavy repairs, wheel maintenance and the overhauling of major mechanical and electrical equipment. These facilities are intended to help railway staff carry out a wider range of maintenance work at a single location.
The heavy repair shed is nearing completion and will have two maintenance lines. One line will be used to lift coaches and remove their bogies, while the other will cater to repairs involving interiors, passenger amenities, braking systems and electrical equipment.
Construction of the wheel care shed has been completed, with modern machinery planned for maintaining wheels and axles. The electrical substation building is also ready and has been handed over, according to the report.
Traction motors, transformers to be serviced at Ahmedabad depot
The facility will also support the overhauling of critical train components, including traction motors, transformers and other electrical systems. This will expand the range of major repair work that can be undertaken in Ahmedabad rather than at other maintenance locations.
The project also includes four completed stabling lines, covering a combined track length of 2,547 metres. These lines will provide space for trainsets to be stationed as part of depot operations.
How many Vande Bharat trainsets can the depot maintain?
According to the project plan cited in the report, the facility will be capable of carrying out SS-I maintenance on one 24-coach Vande Bharat trainset in around 30 days. SS-II maintenance is expected to take approximately 45 days.
Based on these timelines, the depot is projected to handle around 12 trainsets annually for SS-I maintenance or eight trainsets for SS-II maintenance.
How the new Vande Bharat repair facility will help Indian Railways
Once operational, the Sabarmati maintenance hub is expected to strengthen Ahmedabad's capacity to handle scheduled overhauls of Vande Bharat Express trains. Bringing heavy repairs, wheel servicing and electrical maintenance together could reduce the need to move trainsets to other locations for major servicing.
The project is part of the railway's efforts to develop dedicated maintenance infrastructure for Vande Bharat trains as their operations grow across the country.
Inputs from TOI