Varanasi, Nov 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off four new Vande Bharat trains, further expanding India’s fleet of semi-high-speed trains.
Modi flagged off the Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express during a special ceremony held at the Banaras Railway Station. In addition, he virtually inaugurated three other premium Vande Bharat trains — Lucknow–Saharanpur, Bengaluru–Ernakulam and Firozpur Cantt–Delhi.
Passengers travelling on special inaugural passes expressed great enthusiasm, and a large number of schoolchildren were also among the first to board the trains.
With the launch of these four services, the total number of Vande Bharat trains operating across the country has now risen from 78 to 82. It may be recalled that the first Vande Bharat train was inaugurated on February 15, 2019, which runs between New Delhi and Varanasi. Since then, more than 7.5 crore passengers have travelled on various Vande Bharat routes, now spanning 24 states and union Territories.
Modi flagged off the inaugural Banaras–Khajuraho train from the Banaras Railway Station, which was decked up like a bride.
Notably, this is the first regular train service from the Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency to Khajuraho.
The Varanasi–Khajuraho Vande Bharat (26422) is scheduled to depart Varanasi at 5-25 a.m. and arrives at Khajuraho at 1-10 p.m. On the return journey the train (26421) would leave Khajuraho at 3-20 p.m. and reach Varanasi at 11 p.m.
It will run six days a week (except Thursday) with stops at Block Hut ‘K’, Vindhyachal, Prayagraj, Banda, Mahoba, and Khajuraho.
The Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat (26504) would leave Lucknow at 5 a.m. and arrive in Saharanpur at 12:45 p.m.
On its return journey, the train (26503) would leave Saharanpur at 3 p.m. and reach Lucknow at 11 p.m.
It would run six days a week (except Monday) with halts at Sitapur, Sitapur City, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Najibabad, Roorkee, and Saharanpur.
KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam Vande Bharat (26651) would leave Bengaluru at 5-10 a.m., and reach Ernakulam at 1-50 p.m.
The return train (26652) would leave Ernakulam at 2:20 p.m. and reach Bengaluru at 11 p.m.
It would also operate six days a week (except Wednesday), halting at Krishnarajpuram, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, and Thrissur.
The Firozpur Cantt–Delhi Vande Bharat (26462) would leave Firozpur Cantonment at 7:55 a.m., and arrive in Delhi at 2-35 p.m.
The return train (26461) would leave Delhi at 4 p.m. and reach Firozpur Cantonment at 10-35 p.m. It would run six days a week (except Wednesday).
Vande Bharat is India’s first indigenously designed semi-high-speed train, manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai. It can operate at a maximum speed of 160 km per hour.
Key features of the Vande Bharat trains include an intelligent braking system, automatic doors, GPS-based passenger information display, and bio-vacuum toilets. The Executive Class coaches have rotating seats, while the advanced braking system helps save up to 30% electricity. The trains have also been designed to be accessible for persons with disabilities. UNI