Vande Bharat Express - Everything You Need to Know
- Admin
- 23 May 2023
Indian Railways fastest engine-less train – the Vande Bharat Express – also known as Train 18, is all set to be flagged off very soon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Delhi-Varanasi route. The Vande Bharat Express will cover up the distance between Delhi and Varanasi in eight hours, stopping at only two stations – Kanpur and Prayagraj.
Indians teem up with excitement as the launch of a dream train draws nearer. Very soon, passengers will be ready to sit back and sip coffee in the Vande Bharat Express as the trains zooms past stations at a speed that they have all been waiting for.
What to Know About the Train
The Vande Bharat Express, also known as the Train 18, is a semi - high speed intercity electric multiple unit. This was designed and built by Integral Coach Factory in Chennai under the Indian government’s initiative over a span of eighteen months.
This train is estimated to be 40% less costly than a similar train imported from Europe. Hopefully, this train will be first launched from February, 2019, which before its launch, a second train too shall be produced and made ready to be put to service. The service got its name ‘Vande Bharat Express’ on the 27th of January 2019.
The Vande Bharat Express exterior appearance consists of aerodynamic which narrows to each end of the train. Each end of the train holds a driver coach which allows for a faster turnout at each end of the line. The train allows for sixteen passenger cars, with a seating capacity of about a thousand and a hundred and twenty eight passengers.
Over the next year, another unit is planned for production, along with four more units in the following year which will make it a total of six. The Railway Board has requested for two sets of new units have to be completed by the ICF by May 2019. Two of these units will also incorporate sleeper cars into the layout.
The train set is scheduled to be flagged off for an inaugural run by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on February 15, 2019. Its commercial run will start from the 17th of February, 2019 and will run on the Delhi- Varanasi route, via Kanpur and Prayagrag. At an operating speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph), it is expected to outpace the Shatabdi Express by 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph). The train has even been tested for speeds upto 180 kph, and an operational speed has been capped at 160 kph. Every other car on the train is also motorized.
Why ‘Train 18’ named Vande Bharat Express
Train 18 will now be known as Vande Bharat Express. It's a train built completely in India by Indian engineers, in a span of 18 months. It'll ply from Delhi to Varanasi. It is an example that it's possible to make world-class trains under Make in India,"said Piyush Goyal.
It is completely made in India and various names were suggested by the general public but we have decided to name it Vande Bharat Express. A gift on the occasion of Republic Day to people. Will request the prime minister to flag it off," he said.
The words of Piyush Goel, the Railway minister clearly states that the Train 18 would be called Vande Bharat Express to acknowledge its made- in- India status.
Facts about the Train
Pretty soon now, the train will be flagged off by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This train will mark a new era in the travel technology for Indian Railways. It is said that this train will be more effective than the Shatabdi Express train.
Vande Bharat Express will boast of several passenger friendly features. Right from onboard wifi connection, to entertainment, GPS based passenger information systems to comfortable seats. This train will be the dream of many Indians to come.
Here are some features of the Vande Bharat Express:
1. Engine less train
Of course we’ve all seen engine less trains in our metros, but this will be the first self propelled engine less train for inter- city travel. This technology will allow for faster acceleration and deceleration, hence reducing engine time.
2. Made in time
While we are all complaining of stuff not being made on time, our very own Train 18 has been made in a record time of eighteen to twenty months. A project such as this would usually take about three years to finish, but the Vande Bharat Express was worked on from March 2017 and in no time India has its own Engine less inter city train.
3. Semi high speed
The Vande Bharat Express marks the first of many more trains that will be able to run at 160 kmph. It is said that this train will look to accelerate introduction of semi high speed travel in Indian Railways.
4. Automatic doors with sliding footsteps
Sliding doors isn’t new. Sliding doors had been introduced on the Tejas Express, but this will be for the first time that the doors will have sliding footsteps that will make boarding and de-boarding simpler for passengers.
Other Routes
- The First Private Train Of Indian Railways – Delhi Lucknow Tejas Express
- Tejas Express : Best Options of Traveling from Mumbai to Goa
- Tejas Express Offers Luxury Train Travel from Chennai And Madurai
- Tejas Express Is All Set To Speed through Delhi-Chandigarh Route
5. European- styled seats
Train 18, will have European styled seats, which according to an ICF official, the frames will also be of European style making it more firm and durable. Besides comfort, these seats will also look attractive.
6. White- coloured train
According to various sources, the Vande Bharat Express will be a sporting white colour, with some vinyl strips or bands. But in the end, the final isn't known and that will be a surprise for the Indian people.
7. Better pantry
Like every other trains, this train too will have a pantry. And like the Shatabdi Express Trains, each coach of Train 18 will have a mini- pantry with heating chambers for food and refrigeration for beverages. However, the main difference would be that the pantry facilities would be comparatively better. The equipment that will be used for heating and refrigeration would be of better quality and better maintained.
8. Disabled- friendly spaces
The Indian Railways have decided on taking up a noteworthy step, by making the Train 18 a disabled friendly train. Some coaches of the Vande Bharat Express will have spaces to park wheel chairs, hence making the journey more comfortable and more reliable for the disabled.
9. To be a replacement to the Shatabdi
Chairman Railway Board Ashwani Lohani said that Train 18 might likely replace India’s fastest Shatabdi Express train that presently runs on the Delhi- Varanasi route.
10. Digital communication
Train 18 will have a driver at each cabin end. The entire set will operate on a computer unit, where they will communicate with each other digitally. 9 as said by ICF GM Sudhanshu Mani.
Fares of the Train
The Train 18 air conditioned chair car ticket would cost Rs. 1,850 and the executive class fare will be Rs. 3,520 for a single Delhi to Varanasi trip. This includes the catering service charges as well. On its return journey, the chair car ticket will cost Rs. 1,795 and the executive car ticket will be priced at 3,470. While the chair car fares are 1.5 times the price of Shatabdi trains running the same distance, the executive class fares are 1.4 times of first class air conditioned seating in the premium train.
The train has two classes of tickets such as executive class and chair car. Both will have differently priced meals. While passengers who will be travelling from New Delhi to Varanasi in the executive class will be charged Rs. 399 for morning tea, breakfast and lunch, travellers in the chair car will need to pay Rs. 344 for the same. They who will be travelling from Varanasi to New Delhi, the passengers will be charged Rs. 349 and Rs. 288 in the executive class and chair, respectively for the meals.
However, meals on the Vande Bharat Express will not be optional for passengers, unlike in premium trains such as Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto Express, where passengers can choose not to avail catering services. However, passengers travelling the last trip on the route of the train - Prayagraj to Varanasi - will have the choice of opting out of the meals in advance which will be done in the beginning while booking their tickets.
Route of the Train
Under the proposed schedule of Vande Bharat Express, Train 18 will depart from Delhi at 6:00 AM to reach Varanasi by 2:00 PM in the afternoon. On its way, it will stop on the Kanpur station at 10:20 AM and Prayagraj (formerly called Allahabad) at 12:25 PM. On its return journey, the Vande Bharat Express will leave from Varanasi at 3:00 PM to arrive in Delhi at 11:00 PM. On the way, it will stop at Prayagraj at about 4:35 PM and Kanpur at 6:30 PM. Vande Bharat Express will run for five days a week – Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Monday and Thursday the new self-propelled train will put in to undergo maintenance.
Meals onboard the Train
Chaayos and Nescafe are geering up themselves to serve tea and coffee to the passengers who are looking forward to the trips on the Vande Bharat Express. The soon to come Indian Fastest train will serve good square meals from lunch to dinner, which would be from branded places like Pind Balluchi and Landmark Hotel.
The menu is still under construction and people are promised an elaborate affair and an array of food! The IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) is taking that extra step towards keeping the customers satisfied and their tummies full and well fed.
Also read : All about Tejas Express: Digital New Interiors, Yummy Catering Onboard
A sneak peek into the grun on the train:
1.Morning Tea
- Tea/Coffee/Green Tea (premixed)
- Pack of 2 digestive biscuits (Initially, IRCTC has roped in UNIBIC for 1 month)
2. Breakfast
- Tea/Coffee/Juice (The juices are likely to be from Tropicana or Real)
- Doughnut
- Croissant
- Bruschetta
- Vegetable quiche
- Vegetable cutlet or Omelette
3. Lunch and Dinner
- Pulao
- Dal
- Paneer or Boneless Chicken
- Dry vegetable
- Roti/Parantha
- Pickles
- Gulab Jamun
While the lunch would be from Allahabad’s (present Prayagraj) Pind Balluchi and will be loaded from there when the train stops, the dinner will be from a restaurant in Kanpur’s famous 5-star Landmark Hotel.
4. Evening Tea
- Vegetarian baked (not fried!) samosa
- Muffin
- Sweet popcorn (Gourmet)
- Amul Lassi/Tea/Coffee
Some Other Luxury trains run by Indian Railways
So, what are you waiting for experience the journey at Vande Bharat Express and make some amazing memories. Happy Traveling People.
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