Indian Railways says Vande Bharat Express very popular; over 2 crore people travelled by new trains since 2019 launch

Indian Railways says Vande Bharat Express very popular; over 2 crore people travelled by new trains since 2019 launch

Vande Bharat Express trains, known as India’s first semi-high speed rail service, have successfully transported over two crore passengers till the end of March 31 this year. Vande Bharat Express was first launched by Indian Railways between Delhi and Varanasi on February 15, 2019.

Indian Railways in April marks its 171st anniversary, commemorating the historic first train ride in 1853 from Mumbai to Thane. According to a PTI report, officials said that today, Vande Bharat Express symbolizes the transformation of the railway network into a modernized system.

Five years ago, the Vande Bharat Express journey began with train services between Delhi and Varanasi. Today, as per railway data, 102 Vande Bharat train services are operational on 100 different routes, spanning across 284 districts in 24 states and Union Territories.

“The distance that the Vande Bharat trains covered in the financial year in 2023-24 is equivalent to taking 310 rounds of our planet Earth,” a railway official was quoted as saying. This modern train, equipped with top-notch passenger facilities, operates on distributed-power technology for rapid acceleration and deceleration, ensuring a comfortable journey, says Indian Railways.

Railway officials mentioned that the national transporter’s ‘Make-in-India’ initiative was successfully realized through the introduction of the indigenous semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express train. This train has garnered considerable popularity among passengers, particularly the younger demographic.

The popularity of the train is evident from the passenger data. Since its inception on February 15, 2019, over two crore passengers have chosen to travel on it due to the amenities comparable to those found on airplanes, an official said.

He further commented “I think passengers enjoy its speed, comfortable seats, sound-proof coaches, wifi services, GPS-based passenger information system, pantry facilities in each coach and transparent big size window glasses that allow them to enjoy the countryside’s natural beauty among others.”

The railways are currently working on introducing additional Vande Bharat trains, including the sleeper variant.

“Very soon, the Vande Bharat sleeper version will be operational on the tracks, providing a fresh travel experience for passengers traveling long distances.” “Recently, the Railway Minister paid a visit to a rail unit in Bengaluru and unveiled the body structure of the Sleeper version,” said the official.

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