On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new route between Puri-Howrah, which will allow India to operate Vande Bharat Express trains on 15 routes throughout the country. Modi dedicated the 16th Vande Bharat Express train, which connects the holy city of Puri in Odisha to West Bengal’s Howrah, to the nation during the inauguration ceremony.
In his speech, Modi emphasized the significance of the Vande Bharat Express, calling it a “symbol of modern and aspirational India.” He stated that India’s speed and progress could be seen whenever a Vande Bharat train ran from one place to another and noted that this pace could now be witnessed in the states of Odisha and West Bengal.
Modi also highlighted that the Vande Bharat trains reflect India’s spirit of unity and that strengthening the country’s unity would bolster its collective capacity. He added that the country was in the midst of Amrit Kaal, a time to further strengthen national unity.
With the inauguration of the new route, Vande Bharat Express trains will run on 15 routes across the country. The trains, which are India’s first semi-high-speed trains equipped with world-class passenger amenities, have been tremendously popular among commuters. The Vande Bharat Express can reach a top speed of 180 kmph, with an operational speed of 130 kmph for safety reasons, reducing journey time by 25% to 45%.
Modi further spoke about the various Vande Bharat train routes currently operational across the country, including the New Delhi-Varanasi, New Delhi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (J&K), Gandhinagar-Mumbai, and New Delhi-Amb Andaura in Himachal Pradesh routes.
- The first Vande Bharat train was launched on the New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi route on February 15, 2019, and since then, the trains have been highly sought-after. The New Delhi-Varanasi route travels 759 km, leaving from the New Delhi train station at 6:00 am, and arriving in Varanasi at 2:00 pm.
- The eight-hour trip between New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (J&K) begins from the New Delhi train station at 6:00 am and arrives at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 2:00 pm.
- Launched on September 30, 2022, the Gandhinagar-Mumbai Express runs for six days except Sunday. It departs from Mumbai Central at 06:00 am and arrives at Gandhinagar Capital station at 12:25 pm, completing a distance of 522 km.
- The Vande Bharat Express travels from New Delhi to Amb Andaura in Himachal Pradesh seven days a week, excluding Friday. The train leaves the New Delhi train station at 05:50 in the morning and arrives in Amb Anadaura at 11:05 in the morning.
- The Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express is one such train that offers quick and comfortable travel for passengers traveling between Chennai and Mysuru. The train departs from Chennai at 05:50 am and reaches Mysuru junction at 12:20 pm, covering the distance of 401 km. The train operates six days a week, except on Wednesdays.
- Another Vande Bharat Express train that offers seamless travel is the Nagpur-Bilaspur route. However, from May 14, 2023, this train has been temporarily replaced by Tejas Express due to less occupancy on this route. The train departs from Nagpur Railway Station at 02:05 pm and reaches Bilaspur at 07:35 pm, covering the distance of 248 km. The train operates six days a week, except on Saturdays.
- The Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express, flagged off by PM Modi, offers connectivity between Howrah and New Jalpaiguri. The train covers a distance of 454 km in seven hours and thirty minutes, departing from Howrah junction at 5:55 am and reaching New Jalpaiguri at 01:25 pm. The train operates six days a week, except on Wednesdays.
- The Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express operates between Telangana’s Secunderabad and Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam. The train departs from Secunderabad Junction at 03:00 pm and arrives at Visakhapatnam Railway Station at 11:30 pm, covering a distance of 704 km. The train operates six days a week, except on Sundays.
- The Mumbai-Solapur and Mumbai-Shirdi Vande Bharat Express trains are ideal for travelers commuting between Mumbai and Solapur or Shirdi. The Mumbai-Solapur train departs from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal (CST) at 04:05 pm and reaches Solapur at 10:40 pm.
- While the Mumbai-Shirdi train departs at 06:20 am and reaches Shirdi at 11:40 am. Both trains operate six days a week, except on Wednesdays and Tuesdays, respectively.
- The Hazrat Nizamuddin-Bhopal’s Rani Kamlapati Station Vande Bharat Express serves passengers traveling between Bhopal and Hazrat Nizamuddin station, covering a distance of 700 km in seven hours and 45 minutes. The train departs from Bhopal at 05:55 am and reaches Delhi at 01:45 pm. The train operates six days a week, except on Saturdays.
- The Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express connects Hyderabad with the abode of Lord Venkateswara, Tirupati, reducing travel time by almost three-and-a-half hours. The train covers a distance of 660 km between the two cities in eight hours and 30 minutes, departing from Secunderabad at 06:00 am and reaching Tirupati at 02:30 pm. The train operates six days a week, except on Tuesdays.
- The Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express covers a distance of 495 km between Chennai and Coimbatore in six hours and 10 minutes. The train departs from Coimbatore at 06:00 am and reaches Chennai Central at 12:10 pm. The train operates six days a week, except on Wednesdays.
- The Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express is Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train, running between Delhi Cantt and Ajmer. The train departs from Delhi Cantt at 06:40 pm and reaches Ajmer at 11:45 pm, covering a distance of 454 km in five hours and fifteen minutes. It is also the world’s first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory. The train operates six days a week, except on Wednesdays.
- The Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod Vande Bharat Express is Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express train, connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod. The train operates six days a week, except on Thursdays, covering a distance of 586 km in eight hours and five minutes while halting at 14 railway stations.
- The Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express connects Lord Jagannath’s city Puri to West Bengal’s Howrah. The train departs from Puri at 01:50 pm and reaches Howrah at 08:30 pm, covering a distance of 502 km in six hours and forty minutes. The train operates six days a week, except on Thursdays.
Overall, the expansion of the train services across the country will greatly benefit commuters, reducing journey times and enhancing travel experiences. The trains represent a positive step forward for India, highlighting the country’s progress and modernization.
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