Vande Bharat is more than a fast train, it is a statement about where Indian Railways wants to go. At Joshi’s Museum of Miniature Railways, it is also a statement in miniature: a carefully crafted 1:100 scale model that turns a national engineering story into something you can hold, display and live with every day.
This blog brings both together, the real Vande Bharat story and our own tribute to it.
When Indian Railways first dreamed of a homegrown semi high speed trainset, the plan was to import technology. Those proposals never quite worked out, so the decision was made to build it in India instead, under the Make in India banner.
A design team at Integral Coach Factory in Chennai developed what was initially called Train 18. In just 18 months they went from concept to a working prototype, with around 80 percent of components sourced domestically.
During trials in 2018, the trainset reached about 180 km/h on the Kota – Sawai Madhopur section, making it the fastest self propelled EMU ever tested in India at the time. The regular maximum operating speed was set at 160 km/h, with commercial services typically running at up to that limit on selected routes.
In February 2019 the first service, now renamed Vande Bharat Express, was flagged off between New Delhi and Varanasi. It cut journey time by roughly 15 percent compared with existing trains on the route and quickly became one of the most visible symbols of Indian Railways’ modernisation.
Since then the network has grown rapidly. As of 2024, over 100 Vande Bharat services (51 train pairs) are running across broad gauge electrified routes, connecting multiple state capitals and major cities.
On paper, Vande Bharat is a semi high speed, all air conditioned chair car service that aims to do what the Shatabdi Express once did, but with better comfort and tech. In practice, it represents three big shifts.
For many people, the train is not just faster, it feels like a different era, clean white body with blue accents, aerodynamic nose, large windows and a distinctly modern interior.
At Joshi’s Museum of Miniature Railways, we wanted our tribute to do justice to this leap. That is how the Vande Bharat Express | 1:100 Scale Model was born.
Key details:
ABS gives the model a rigid, premium feel and allows crisp edges on the signature nose profile and windows. MDF for the base adds weight so the piece sits firmly on a desk or shelf, while the clear acrylic cover keeps dust away and turns the model into a ready made showpiece.
The 1:100 scale is a deliberate choice. It is large enough that the characteristic shape and livery of the train are instantly recognisable from across a room, yet compact enough to fit on workstations, sideboards or home display niches without needing a full layout.
This is not a toy train to run on tracks, it is a static collector’s piece built for people who want Vande Bharat in their eyeline whenever they look up from their laptop or tea.
Shrinking a train like Vande Bharat is not only about scaling down dimensions. The challenge is to preserve the feeling of speed and modernity in a still object.
For our model, the team focused on:
Collectors who have already seen the full size train often describe an odd moment of recognition: “It looks exactly like the one I saw pulling into the station, just shrunk and frozen in time.”
Joshi’s Museum of Miniature Railways has always sat at the intersection of Indian rail heritage and living innovation. Inside the main hall, the moving layout covers everything from steam inspired engines to metros and international trains. Adding a dedicated Vande Bharat model to the Collectors’ Corner extends that philosophy into the shop.
For school groups and families, the model is a way to continue the conversation at home. After watching the miniature layout run, talking about signals and systems, they can also talk about how Indian Railways is changing at full scale.
For enthusiasts, the model is part of a wider collection. It pairs nicely with other static pieces such as a WDG3A diesel or Swiss Jungfrau model, giving your shelf a narrative, diesel past on one side, semi high speed present on the other, with the Pune Metro or other units connecting it to city life.
In a way, this single static model carries the same message as the museum itself: India can preserve its history and push forward at the same time.
Trains come and go in timetables, but some become symbols. Vande Bharat is one of them. It stands for speed, self reliance, better passenger comfort and a new visual language for Indian Railways.
Our Vande Bharat Express | 1:100 Scale Model is built as a small tribute to that big idea. It takes a train that lives mostly in news photos and station sightings and gives it a permanent place in your daily environment.
Whether you are a railfan, an engineer, a frequent traveller or someone who simply loves what Vande Bharat represents, this is a piece that keeps that story on your desk, literally in view.
1. Is Vande Bharat really India’s fastest train?
Vande Bharat trainsets reached about 180 km/h during trials and operate commercially up to 160 km/h on selected routes, making them among India’s fastest conventional intercity trains. Some newer systems like Namo Bharat RRTS also operate at 160 km/h in their dedicated corridors.
2. Who designed and built the Vande Bharat trainsets?
They were designed and developed by Integral Coach Factory in Chennai as part of the Make in India initiative, with around 80 percent indigenous components in the first prototypes.
3. What exactly is the Joshi’s Vande Bharat 1:100 scale model?
It is a static collector’s model of the Vande Bharat Express, made from ABS plastic on an MDF base with an acrylic display box, scaled at 1:100 for ideal desk or shelf display.
4. Is the model motorised or does it run on tracks?
The Vande Bharat 1:100 model is a non powered static piece. It is designed for display rather than operation, which allows for finer detailing and a clean, protected presentation.
5. Where can I buy the Vande Bharat model from Joshi’s Museum?
You can purchase it through the museum’s official shop, either on site after your visit or via their online store, along with other miniature trains and railway themed souvenirs.
