Indian Railways to go under MASSIVE upgrade, plans to develop 7,000 km of Dedicated Passenger Corridors only for passenger trains by…, top speed to be…
Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the government is planning to build a Dedicated Passenger Corridor (DPC) over the next 30 years. This project aims to meet the growing number of passengers, increase train capacity, and introduce the next generation of Vande Bharat 4.0 trains. A Dedicated Passenger Corridor will be a new high-speed rail network made only for passenger trains. It will separate passenger traffic from regular rail lines so that trains can run faster and more efficiently.
Speaking at the 16th International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE) 2025, the minister said more such corridors will be built in the future. “India has 1.4 billion people, and the demand for transportation is massive. We need to start building passenger-only corridors. Other large economies have done this successfully,” he said. The plan follows the success of the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC), which focus on goods transport.
Vaishnaw also praised the achievements of the Vande Bharat trains and encouraged engineers to improve their design further. He said the upcoming Vande Bharat 4.0, expected in the next 18 months, will have better toilets, improved seats, and higher-quality interiors. He added that it should be so advanced that other countries look to India as a model.
The minister said the railway’s main goals are to serve passengers better, ensure safety, and prepare the system for the next 25 years of growth and demand.
Development of Dedicated Corridors
Vaishnaw said that India will build around 7,000 km of Dedicated Passenger Corridors (DPCs) by 2047 as part of the Central Government’s Viksit Bharat Vision. These corridors will have modern signalling systems made in India and advanced operations control centres (OCCs) to manage train movement efficiently.
Train speed on dedicated passenger corridors
Vaishnaw explained that trains running on the DPCs will be designed for a top speed of 350 kmph, with a regular operating speed of 320 kmph. This means that while the trains can go up to 350 kmph, they will normally run at 320 kmph for safety and efficiency.
The minister also highlighted that Indian Railways is undergoing a major modernisation and expansion drive. He said the railway budget has been steadily increasing, and over the past 11 years, India has added 35,000 km of new tracks and completed 46,000 km of electrification.
Currently, there are 156 Vande Bharat, 30 Amrit Bharat, and 4 Namo Bharat train services operating across the country. In the financial year 2024–25, Indian Railways recorded record production which is over 7,000 coaches, 42,000 wagons, and 1,681 locomotives were manufactured.
Vaishnaw also noted the launch of India’s first 9,000 HP electric locomotive, while 12,000 HP locomotives are already running successfully, marking another milestone in the country’s railway development.
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