Ahmedabad: Major repairs of Vande Bharat trains will soon be possible in Ahmedabad, reducing the need to send trainsets to other locations for scheduled overhauling. A Rs 307 crore maintenance hub is taking shape at Sabarmati, with facilities to service coaches, wheels and key mechanical and electrical systems under one roof.Being developed by Western Railway’s Ahmedabad division as part of Phase II of the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot, the facility is designed to handle scheduled maintenance of 24-coach Vande Bharat trainsets. It is expected to strengthen the city’s capacity to maintain the premium trains as their operations expand.The project includes dedicated sheds for heavy repairs, wheel maintenance and overhauling of key equipment. The heavy repair shed is nearing completion and will have two maintenance lines: one to lift coaches and remove bogies, and another to repair interiors, passenger amenities, braking systems and electrical equipment.Construction of the wheel care shed has been completed, with modern machinery planned for wheel and axle maintenance. Four stabling lines, covering a total of 2,547 metres of track, have also been completed. The electrical substation building is ready and has been handed over.The depot will also be equipped to overhaul major train components, including traction motors, transformers and other electrical systems, allowing a wider range of maintenance work to be carried out at the same location.According to the project plan, the facility will be able to undertake SS-I maintenance of one 24-coach trainset in around 30 days and SS-II maintenance in 45 days. This translates into an annual capacity of about 12 trainsets for SS-I or eight for SS-II maintenance.Once operational, the hub is expected to provide Ahmedabad with dedicated infrastructure for major Vande Bharat maintenance, improving the railway’s ability to manage scheduled overhauls locally.
