A German tourist’s recent journey on the Vande Bharat Express has been getting a lot of attention online. Traveller Alexander Welder shared his experience of riding the executive-class coach, describing it as “India’s most modern train.” From the moment he boarded, he noted how the clean, well-designed interiors reminded him of the high-speed trains he had seen in Japan and China. He was particularly impressed by the spacious overhead storage, which he said could easily hold even large suitcases.
One of the features that delighted him the most was the rotating seats. Alexander and his friend were seen playfully trying them out, turning the chairs toward the windows to better enjoy the scenery. During his tour of the coach, he also showed both types of toilets available on board and highlighted the elaborate meal served with the Rs 2,100 executive-class ticket on the five-and-a-half-hour trip. His food tray came with dal, sabzi, curry, rice, chapati, ice cream, and snacks.
In his Instagram video, Alexander Welder says, “Today we are taking a journey on what is considered India’s most modern train, the Vande Bharat, in executive class. Check out the setup here. It looks a bit like I’m in a Japanese or Chinese high speed train. Also, look how spacious the overhead compartment is. My luggage is insanely big, but it still comfortably fits in the overhead compartment. One thing that is very cool about this train check this one out you can actually turn around your chairs so you can face the window. How cool is that? I’m not sure how we’re actually locking in the chair. We are playing around here with them.”.
He continues, “Let’s get our soup served here, and the next meal just arrived. This is actually our pre-ordered meal that we ordered in advance online. We have chapati here, two different curries, rice and vegetables, and we have ice cream. We even got some ice cream as a dessert. And we just got snacks also included in the ticket. How crazy is that?”
The video sparked a wave of reactions in the comments section. One user wrote, “Love it when our guests from around the world enjoy our facilities to the extent of whatever is on offer. Atithhi Devo Bhavah.”
Another pointed out, “That’s a really good price compared to Europe. Sometimes u don’t even get to sit in Germany without seat reservations if trains are very full.”
A humorous remark read, “Finally saw a rich foreigner, who can afford Vande Bharat.”
Someone else added, “For tourists, this is not the most luxurious. You should try Maharajas’ Express, Palace on Wheels, Golden Chariot and Deccan Odyssey.”
Another user reflected on India’s rapid railway progress, saying, “Ultimately, old trains will be phased out and these trains will run for the general public and bullet trains will run for the more economically viable population. We have come a long way to be honest, especially in the railways, we have more electrification percentage in our railways than the US or China, and the largest electrified railway network in the world.”