Press Note Details: Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Railways

Enhancing Rail Travel: The Vande Bharat Express Story

Posted On: 02 SEP 2024 3:41PM

The Government of India has dedicated significant efforts towards strengthening the ‘Make in India’ campaign. As an excellent example of the ‘Make in India’ success story, the Indian Railways launched India’s first indigenous semi-high-speed train, Vande Bharat Express. It has become a symbol of India’s aspirations for modern, efficient, and comfortable rail travel. The first Vande Bharat Express train was flagged off on February 15, 2019, on the New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi route, running at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour. A total of 102 Vande Bharat train services (51 trains) are running across the Indian Railways, connecting states having Broad Gauge (B.G.) electrified network. During the financial year 2022-23, approximately 31.84 lakh were booked to travel on Vande Bharat trains. The overall occupancy of Vande Bharat trains during this period has been 96.62%.^{^[1]}

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off three Vande Bharat trains on August 31, 2024 via video conferencing, which will enhance connectivity across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. These state-of-the-art trains, embodying the Prime Minister's vision of 'Make in India' and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, will improve transportation links along three key routes: Meerut City- Lucknow, Madurai- Bengaluru, Chennai Egmore- Nagercoil.

The Vande Bharat trains will offer residents in these regions a world-class travel experience, combining speed with comfort. These trains are equipped with top-tier amenities and advanced safety features, such as Kavach technology, 360-degree rotating seats, accessible toilets for Divyangjan, and integrated Braille signages, among many others.

Meerut City- Lucknow Vande Bharat Express

The Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express marks the first Vande Bharat service connecting Meerut with Lucknow. This train is expected to significantly boost religious tourism in the region by offering a faster and more efficient travel option to various pilgrimage sites, including the Digambar Jain Temple, Mansa Devi Mandir, Surajkund Temple, Augharnath Temple, and Hanuman Chowk Mandir in Meerut, as well as Chandrika Devi Temple, Bhoothnath Mandir, and Buddheshwar Mahadev Temple in Lucknow. Additionally, the Vande Bharat Express will provide a major boost to industries in the Meerut region- such as sports goods, musical instruments, sugar, and electronics- by improving swift connectivity to Uttar Pradesh's capital.

Madurai- Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express

The Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express is the first Vande Bharat train to link Madurai with Bengaluru via the Tiruchchirappalli route. This service will connect the vibrant temple city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu with the cosmopolitan city of Bengaluru, the state capital of Karnataka. Additionally, it will provide convenient travel for business professionals, students, working personnels and other commuters traveling from their hometowns in Tamil Nadu to the metropolitan hub of Bengaluru.

Chennai Egmore- Nagercoil Vande Bharat

The Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat is the first Vande Bharat train to connect the scenic town of Nagercoil with Chennai. Covering 726 kilometers within Tamil Nadu, this train offers a modern and faster travel experience to residents across 12 districts, including Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Trichy, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, and Chennai. This service will also greatly benefit pilgrims traveling to the divine Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai and the Kumari Amman Temple in Kanniyakumari.

India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper

Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset at BEML's Bangalore rail complex on September 01, 2024. The trainset has been indigenously designed and manufactured by BEML, India’s leading rail and metro manufacturer.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper train set is expected to revolutionize long-distance rail travel in India, setting new benchmarks for comfort, safety, and efficiency. The train is equipped with a range of world-class features, including an integrated reading light with USB charging provision, public announcement and visual information systems, inside display panels and security cameras, modular pantries, and special berths and toilets for differently-abled passengers. Additionally, the 1st AC car offers showers with hot water, enhancing passenger comfort.

Engineered with meticulous attention to detail, the trainset prioritizes both aesthetic appeal and functionality across all elements, from the front nose cone to interior panels, seats, sleeper berths, and more. BEML has led the aggregation of critical systems including electrical, propulsion, bogies, exterior plug doors, brake systems, and HVAC, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance throughout the trainset. The entire manufacturing and assembly process has been consolidated at BEML, underscoring the company’s commitment to quality and precision.

Conclusion

The Vande Bharat Express has revolutionized rail travel in India, offering a unique combination of speed, comfort, and safety. With the continued expansion of this service, the Indian Railways aims to further enhance connectivity across the country, contributing to economic growth and regional development. The success of the Vande Bharat Express is a testament to India’s capabilities in indigenous manufacturing and a significant step toward realizing the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat.' The Vande Bharat Express represents the future of Indian Railways, embodying the country's commitment to innovation, self-reliance, and sustainable development. As more routes are added and services expanded, the Vande Bharat Express will continue to play a pivotal role in transforming the travel experience for millions of passengers across India.

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