Goa, Sept. 13 -- India's first Vande Bharat freight train has reached a speed of 130 kmph during a trial run on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central route, marking a significant step in the development of faster rail freight services.

The trial is being conducted by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) along the Ahmedabad-Vadodara-Mumbai Central section of Western Railway.

Developed by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the 16-coach Vande Bharat Freight EMU has been designed to transport parcels and other goods at higher speeds. It is expected to cater to sectors such as e-commerce, courier services, electronics, pharmaceuticals and cold-chain logistics.

The Railway Ministry said the train is intended to offer a mode...