In a landmark move underscoring India’s emergence as a global railway technology exporter, Cambodia has announced plans to import 45 Vande Bharat train coaches from Indian Railways. This marks the first export order of these modern semi‑high-speed trainsets, positioning Vande Bharat as India’s flagship rail export and underlining its growing international appeal.
What Is Vande Bharat?
- Launched on 15 February 2019, the Vande Bharat Express (formerly Train 18) is India’s indigenously designed, air‑conditioned semi‑high‑speed electric multiple unit (EMU) developed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
- Built in 18 months with ~80% local content, the train is capable of reaching speeds of 160 km/h in service, with a top trial speed of 180 km/h+, and accelerates from 0–100 km/h in just 52 seconds – faster than some Japanese bullet trains.
- Features include automatic doors, onboard Wi‑Fi, infotainment systems, rotatable executive‑class seats, bio‑vacuum toilets, GPS‑based passenger information, CCTV, and LED lighting.
- With hundreds of coaches and multiple trainsets in service, Vande Bharat now forms the backbone of India’s modern domestic rail services.
Vande Bharat Goes Global: From Interest to Orders
Early Inquiries
Soon after its debut, several countries in South-East Asia, Latin America, and South Asia expressed interest in acquiring Vande Bharat trainsets, including Chile, Canada, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Chile officially “showed interest,” and the Financial Express reported that Paraguay engaged in high-level discussions in June 2025, with India’s Railway Minister meeting the Paraguayan President marking “keen interest in importing India’s Vande Bharat trains.”
Readiness for Export
To support global expansion, the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for railway components – specifically wheels, brakes, and transmissions was introduced. This effort aims to make Vande Bharat’s core systems 100% indigenous by 2025–26.
The rail authority RITES is developing a standard-gauge variant to meet international standards essential as many countries (e.g., Chile, Brazil, Argentina) do not use broad gauge.
Strategic Export Plans
- Government sources confirmed India aims to export Vande Bharat trainsets globally by 2025–26, particularly targeting Europe, South America, and East Asia.
- The ICF, the world’s largest coach manufacturer, has already exported over 650 coaches and bogies to countries across Afro-Asia, including Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Sri Lanka.
- In December 2023, inquiries also came from Chile for semi‑high‑speed locomotives, and South American discussions are ongoing for Vande Bharat variants.
Cambodia’s Decision: 45 Coaches on Order
Strategic Rationale
Cambodia’s demand for 45 Vande Bharat coaches is a strategic acquisition for modernizing and expanding its urban and intercity rail network. While details remain limited, the move seemingly blends passenger capacity expansion with broader infrastructure upgrades.
Economic & Technological Highlights
Aspect Details
Cost Advantage: Vande Bharat coaches cost around ₹120–130 crore per rake, versus ₹160–180 crore for comparable international trainsets.
Performance: Faster acceleration/deceleration, lower noise levels, energy-efficient operations.
Reliability & Comfort: Automatic doors, bio‑vacuum toilets, onboard infotainment, CCTV all proving successful in India. The Indian Finance Minister has plans to upgrade 40,000 coaches across India to Vande Bharat standards, accentuating the design’s credibility.
Building on Institutional Experience
The Modern Coach Factory (MCF) in Rae Bareli is set to release its first Vande Bharat rake by early 2025, exemplifying India’s expanded manufacturing base beyond ICF and RCF.
The PLI scheme promotes a domestic ecosystem for these coaches, ensuring Cambodia obtains cost-effective, high-quality equipment.
Broader Impacts: India’s Rising Rail Exports
Expanding Export Portfolio
India has extended coach and component exports to more than 16 countries, including UK, France, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
These exports include:
- Passenger coaches to Mozambique, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.
- Locomotives to Mozambique, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh.
- Underframes & bogie frames for UK (Aventra), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh metro), France (SNCF), Australia.
- Propulsion systems for rolling-stock projects in France (TGV), Mexico, Romania, Spain, Germany, Italy.
Strategic Manufacturing Scale-Up
Production at ICF reached 4,166 coaches in 2019–20, although 2022–23 saw a slight dip to 2,702, with ~75,000 coaches rolled out since inception.
LHB coach production including high-speed variants hit 4,175 units in 2022–23.
MCF’s upcoming Vande Bharat output (400+ coaches) further cements India’s manufacturing depth.
Why Cambodia Matters in India’s Railway Export Strategy
1. First confirmed Vande Bharat export order turning global interest into reality.
2. Cost competitiveness demonstrates India’s edge in global markets.
3. Potential regional hub role in Southeast Asia, possibly inspiring neighbors like Laos and Vietnam.
4. Reinforces “Make in India” success, showcasing domestically built coaches winning international bids.
The Road Ahead: What Comes Next
1. Export Target by 2025–26
India aims to finalize its first Vande Bharat export deals by 2025–26, backed by standard-gauge models and PLI-supported supply chains.
2. Standard-Gauge Adaptation
Designing Vande Bharat in standard-gauge will unlock access to markets across Europe, South America, and parts of Asia.
3. Component Localization
PLI schemes encourage supply-chain localization wheels, brakes, traction to support export readiness.
4. Increase in Global Orders
Anticipated deals from Paraguay, Chile, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka may follow Cambodia’s trailblazing order.
5. Manufacturing Expansion
Scaling up ICF, RCF, and MCF capacities could allow India to fulfill thousands of Vande Bharat units – government targets 4,500 trains by 2047.
Conclusion
Cambodia’s decision to import 45 Vande Bharat coaches marks a historic pivot as India solidifies its position in the global rail market. The move validates Vande Bharat’s design excellence, cost efficiency, and brand as a flagship of India’s “Make in India” vision.
By adapting for standard gauges, bolstering local supply chains, and scaling production, India is poised to embark on a new era of railway diplomacy – transforming from a domestic rail provider to a global rail powerhouse.
Sources
- India’s Vande Bharat export roadmap for 2025-26.
- ICF and Vande Bharat coach production background.
- Global interest from Chile, Paraguay, Southeast Asia.
- Cost and performance benefits.
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