TBM Staff - Mumbai
Indian Railways, following the success of the Vande Bharat Express, is set to launch the country’s first Vande Bharat Metro. The trial runs for this new train have commenced and are expected to conclude soon. Once testing is complete, this premium train will be available for public use, sparking curiosity about the potential fare. Let’s explore the expected pricing and other pertinent details.
The Vande Bharat Metro is described by railway officials as a hybrid of the Metro and the Vande Bharat Express. Currently, 52 Vande Bharat Express trains are operating successfully across India. A key feature of the Vande Bharat Metro is its rapid acceleration, reaching 100 km/h in just 45 to 47 seconds, compared to the Vande Bharat Express’s 52 seconds. Despite this quick acceleration, the Vande Bharat Metro will have a lower top speed due to shorter distances between stations.
While the Vande Bharat Express can reach speeds up to 180 km/h, the Vande Bharat Metro will be limited to a maximum speed of 130 km/h. This reduced speed is suitable for its purpose, as the shorter distances between stations on the Metro routes do not require extremely high speeds. This design choice ensures efficient and safe travel for passengers.
As for the fare, railway officials suggest it will be lower than that of an AC chair car, making it more accessible to the public. This pricing strategy is informed by a comparative study of existing Metro and Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) fares. The exact fare will be announced soon, aiming to provide an affordable travel option. The Vande Bharat Metro will connect around 124 cities across India, with proposed routes including Lucknow-Kanpur, Agra-Mathura, Delhi-Rewari, Bhubaneswar-Balasore, Agra-Delhi, Tirupati-Chennai, and Delhi-Moradabad, enhancing connectivity between major cities and towns.
