TBM Staff - Mumbai
Vande Bharat Express trains, India’s first semi-high-speed rail service, have successfully carried over 20 million passengers as of March 31 this year. The service was initially launched by Indian Railways between Delhi and Varanasi on February 15, 2019.
In April, Indian Railways celebrates its 171st anniversary, marking the historic first train journey in 1853 from Mumbai to Thane. According to a PTI report, officials stated that today, Vande Bharat Express represents the transformation of the railway network into a modernised system.
Five years ago, the Vande Bharat Express journey began with train services between Delhi and Varanasi. Now, according to railway data, 102 Vande Bharat train services operate on 100 different routes across 284 districts in 24 states and Union Territories.
A railway official noted that the distance Vande Bharat trains covered in the 2023-24 financial year is equivalent to completing 310 rounds of the Earth. The modern train, equipped with top-notch passenger facilities, uses distributed-power technology for fast acceleration and deceleration, providing a comfortable journey, as stated by Indian Railways.
Railway officials emphasized that the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative was successfully realised with the launch of the indigenous semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train. The train has gained significant popularity, especially among younger passengers.
The popularity of the train is evident from the passenger data. Since its inception on February 15, 2019, over 20 million passengers have chosen to travel on the train due to amenities similar to those found on airplanes, according to an official.
The official added, “Passengers appreciate its speed, comfortable seats, sound-proof coaches, Wi-Fi services, GPS-based passenger information system, pantry facilities in each coach, and large transparent windows that allow them to enjoy the natural beauty of the countryside.”
Indian Railways is currently working on introducing additional Vande Bharat trains, including a sleeper variant. “The Vande Bharat sleeper version will soon be operational, offering a new travel experience for long-distance passengers. Recently, the Railway Minister visited a rail unit in Bengaluru and revealed the body structure of the sleeper version,” said the official.
