A significant change may occur in the seating arrangement of the Vande Bharat train, as senior railway engineers have proposed modifying the seats in the Executive class coaches.
If this proposal is adopted, the Vande Bharat could acquire a new appearance. Senior engineers suggested removing the rotating mechanism from the seats in the Executive class coaches. This idea was presented at a meeting of senior engineers and rolling stock production divisions, but it is a design proposal, not a change in passenger service.
Currently, the seats are equipped with tilting and rotating mechanisms. According to the report, updated railway officials noted that rotation requires additional space, parts, and free area, which increases the likelihood of wear, weakening, and part failure. The proposed stationary design would be more durable and easier to maintain.
The proposal also indicated that eliminating the space required for rotation could allow for reducing the distance between rows and adding another row to the Executive class coach. However, the railway has not yet announced a revised seating layout or passenger capacity.
According to the report released by the Railway Council, a senior engineer from an Integrated Coffee Factory in Chennai was tasked with working on this proposal. Nevertheless, information regarding timelines and other details has not been disclosed, so changes are not expected at this time.