Chennai: The Ministry of Railways has unveiled 12 key enhancements in the Amrit Bharat Version 2.0 trains, with plans to produce 50 of these upgraded trains at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) over the next two years, said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, according to media reports.

During his visit to the ICF with General Manager U Subba Rao, Vaishnaw emphasised the need for the state government to prioritise service to the people above politics, reiterating the Centre's commitment to public welfare, reported PTI.

"Delighted to see the progress on Amrit Bharat Version 2.0 being manufactured here. The first version of Amrit Bharat was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024, and based on a year’s experience, we’ve introduced several enhancements in Version 2.0," Vaishnaw was quoted as saying by PTI.

Highlighting the upgrades, he noted, "Twelve major improvements have been implemented across the entire train. These include semi-automatic couplers, modular toilets, chair pillars and partitions, an emergency talk-back feature, an emergency brake system, continuous lighting systems akin to Vande Bharat trains, and newly designed ergonomic seats and berths."

Additionally, the pantry cars in these trains have been redesigned entirely.

Targeted at low- and middle-income families, Vaishnaw stated, "Fifty Amrit Bharat Version 2.0 trains will be produced at ICF within the next two years. These trains aim to provide affordable and high-quality travel experiences, particularly for long-distance journeys."

Vaishnaw said the Amrit Bharat Trains have been designed to provide comfortable travel experience even to the poorest of the poor with the experience drawn from Vande (Bharat) Sleeper and the first version of the Amrit Bharat (which was launched in 2024).

The general coach has features like comfortable seats, charging points, mobile phone and water bottle holders and more, he added.

He urged the state governments to rise above politics and help the railway ministry with issues like land acquisition to bring better travel facilities to the people.