On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three new Vande Bharat Express trains virtually, aimed at improving connectivity across key routes and significantly reducing travel time for commuters.
The trains will operate on the Meerut-Lucknow, Madurai-Bengaluru, and Chennai-Nagercoil routes.
The launch ceremony, which took place at 12:30 PM, marked the introduction of state-of-the-art rail services catering to Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
The new Vande Bharat trains are likely to provide a faster, more efficient travel experience.
The Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express is likely to cut down travel time by approximately one hour compared to the fastest existing train service between the two cities.
Similarly, the Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil and Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat trains will reduce journey times by over two hours and 90 minutes, respectively.
“The introduction of these new and fast trains will herald a new standard of rail service to meet the needs of regular travellers, professionals, and business and student communities in immense measure,” stated the Prime Minister’s Office.
Vande Bharat Express
India’s Vande Bharat Express trains, which feature indigenously designed semi-high-speed capabilities, operate at speeds up to 160 KMPH.
They feature advanced safety measures, including the anti-collision system KAVACH and fully-sealed gangways for seamless passenger movement, along with automatic plug doors.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that between 2019 and 2024, Indian Railways has expanded its services by introducing 772 new train services, including 100 Vande Bharat trains.
The total investment in manufacturing these trains has reached Rs 1,343.72 crore.
“The Vande Bharat trains are part of our ongoing effort to enhance the travel experience with modern amenities and improved safety features,” Vaishnaw noted.
He further added, “Indian Railways continuously assesses and introduces new train services based on traffic demand, operational feasibility, and resource availability.”
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