The Vande Bharat trains, India’s semi-high-speed trains that offer world-class amenities and comfort, are set to expand their network and reach new destinations in 2024. The central government has been launching new Vande Bharat trains on various routes across the country, connecting important cities, pilgrimage sites, and tourist attractions.
According to a report by the Pune Mirror, the Central Railway Authority has given approval to launch two new Vande Bharat trains between Mumbai and Shegaon, a holy town in Maharashtra that attracts a large number of devotees of Gajanan Maharaj. The new trains will reduce the travel time between the two cities and bring great happiness to the devotees. The trains are expected to start operations soon.
The Railways has also targeted to run 30-35 new Vande Bharat trains by May this year, as part of its Mission Raftar initiative to enhance the speed and efficiency of the rail network. Some of the new routes that have been added in 2024 include Nagarcoil-Chennai, Amritsar-Delhi, Jalna-Mumbai CSMT, and Mumbai-Ahmedabad. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat and Shatabdi trains are likely to hit a speed limit of 160 kmph from March, saving 30 minutes of travel time.
The Vande Bharat trains, which were first introduced in February 2019, have been receiving positive feedback from the passengers for their features such as automatic doors, bio-vacuum toilets, Wi-Fi, CCTV cameras, LED lights, GPS-based passenger information system, and modular seats. The trains also have a train collision avoidance system, which alerts the loco pilot in case of any danger. The trains are designed and manufactured in India, as part of the Make in India initiative.
The Ministry of Railways is also planning to acquire the third batch of 200 Vande Bharat trains with sleeper amenities, following the Vande Bharat trains with seating chairs. The Railways may release a tender of Rs 24,000 crore this month for this purpose. The new trains will cater to the long-distance passengers who prefer overnight journeys.
The Vande Bharat trains are a symbol of India’s progress and innovation in the field of railways. They are expected to boost the economy, tourism, and connectivity of the country in the coming years.
