Railways consider ditching rotating seats in Vande Bharat executive coaches

Railway officials have put forward a plan to remove one of the Vande Bharat's most recognizable features—rotating seats in executive class coaches—in favour of fixed seating arrangements. The proposal emerged during a recent conference of Principal Chief Mechanical Engineers (PCMEs), where coach production units argued that the rotating mechanism requires excessive space and creates durability issues.

According to the engineers, the rotating seat feature demands frequent maintenance and makes components susceptible to wear and tear, reducing operational efficiency. By eliminating the rotation capability and adopting fixed seats similar to those in conventional Shatabdi and other trains, the railway system could improve the overall sturdiness of the coaches.

The proposal carries an additional benefit: removing the rotating mechanism would free up considerable space within each coach. Railway officials suggest this liberated area could accommodate an additional row of seats, potentially increasing passenger capacity without expanding the coach dimensions.

The Vande Bharat trains, India's indigenously designed semi-high-speed rail service, have been celebrated for their modern amenities and passenger comfort features since their introduction. However, the rotating seats—while popular among passengers—have proven to be a maintenance challenge for railway engineers tasked with keeping the coaches operational. The proposal now awaits approval from higher railway authorities before any implementation decisions are made.