Vande Bharat Express Update
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Indian Railways plans to launch Vande Bharat Express and Vande Metro on the new network in Jammu and Kashmir. Once the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (USBRL) rail link is fully operational, the Vande Metro will connect Jammu and Srinagar. Vaishnaw has announced that the USBRL project is expected to be completed by December 2023 or January 2024, after which a Vande Bharat Express will also run on this important rail link.
The railway ministry is planning to set up maintenance facilities at Badgam in Jammu & Kashmir to ensure the smooth functioning of the Vande Bharat Express. Additionally, electrification work on the Chenab bridge will commence soon, and the bridge will be equipped with the indigenous Kavach anti-collision system.
The Chenab river bridge, which is the world’s highest railway bridge at 359 meters above the river bed, is almost ready. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently visited the construction site and rode on a track-mounted vehicle over the completed track laying work on the 1.3-kilometer-long bridge. The bridge is an essential link in the 111 km stretch from Katra to Banihal, and the ambitious project is being executed by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd at an estimated cost of Rs 1486 crore. The bridge is built to withstand winds speeds of up to 266 kmph and is blast-proof, capable of withstanding severe earthquakes as well. The USBRL project will connect Jammu & Kashmir to the rest of India and provide all-weather connectivity.
The Indian Railways plans to launch Vande Bharat Express on all major railway routes in the country, which is an all air-conditioned chair car service and a more premium version of the Shatabdi trains. Moreover, the railway ministry is also developing a new Vande Metro train service for short distance intercity travel that will connect major metros with nearby tier-2 cities.
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Vande Bharat Express, also known as Train 18, is a semi-high speed train in India that was launched on February 15, 2019. It is a state-of-the-art train that is designed to run at a speed of 160 km/hour, making it the fastest train in India. The train is equipped with modern facilities such as onboard Wi-Fi, GPS-based passenger information system, and automatic doors. In this blog, we will discuss the features of Vande Bharat Express, its history, and the impact it has had on Indian Railways.
History
The idea of a semi-high speed train in India was first proposed in 2006 by the then Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav. However, it was only in 2015 that the Indian government announced plans to launch a semi-high speed train, which was to be called Train 18. The train was to be built by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, and it was expected to be completed by 2017.
However, due to various delays, the train was finally launched in February 2019. The train was renamed Vande Bharat Express after it was flagged off by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on its inaugural run from New Delhi to Varanasi.
Features
Vande Bharat Express is a state-of-the-art train that is designed to provide a comfortable and luxurious travel experience to passengers. The train has 16 coaches, including two executive class coaches and 14 chair car coaches. The executive class coaches have 52 seats each, while the chair car coaches have 78 seats each.
The train is equipped with modern facilities such as onboard Wi-Fi, GPS-based passenger information system, and automatic doors. The train also has a state-of-the-art braking system that enables it to stop in a shorter distance than other trains. The train has a top speed of 160 km/hour, making it the fastest train in India.
Impact
Vande Bharat Express has had a significant impact on Indian Railways since its launch. The train has helped to improve the image of Indian Railways, which has been plagued by delays and accidents in recent years. The train has also helped to reduce travel time between New Delhi and Varanasi by around 40%.
The launch of Vande Bharat has also had a positive impact on the Indian economy. The train was built entirely in India, which has helped to create jobs and boost the manufacturing sector. The train has also helped to promote tourism in India, as it provides a comfortable and luxurious travel experience to tourists.
Vande Bharat Routes
- New Delhi – Varanasi Vande Bharat Express
- New Delhi – Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (J&K) Vande Bharat Express
- Gandhinagar- Mumbai Vande Bharat Express
- New Delhi – Amb Andaura in Himachal Pradesh Vande Bharat Express
- Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat
- Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express
- Howrah – New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express
- Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express
- Mumbai- Solapur Vande Bharat Express
- Mumbai- Shirdi Vande Bharat Express
Vande Bharat Express is a state-of-the-art train that has helped to improve the image of Indian Railways. The train is equipped with modern facilities and is designed to provide a comfortable and luxurious travel experience to passengers. The train has had a positive impact on the Indian economy, as it has helped to create jobs and boost the manufacturing sector. The launch of Vande Bharat Express is a significant milestone in the history of Indian Railways, and it is a testament to India’s growing technological capabilities.
