Trains are a gateway into people’s lives, much like the veins of this nation. Every traveler carries a tale. They hail from a plethora of varied backgrounds. Concerning languages, cultures, and food, traveling by train offer a well-rounded experience.
India has one of the biggest rail networks in the world, with much more than 12,500 trains running through it each day.
The system serves as more than just the nation’s transportation backbone. Every day, approximately 23 million people use trains to go about. It has its distinct charm and cadence, and it is almost like a way of life.
It’s interesting to explore the diversity of expressions, feelings, and cultures that make up Indian Railways.
Vande Bharat Express
The Vande Bharat Express, an indigenous Indian Railways train, was the nation’s first semi-high-speed train.
On February 15, 2019, the first Vande Bharat Express train was flagged to depart on the New Delhi to Kanpur to Allahabad to Varanasi route.
The Vande Bharat Express has travel classes comparable to Shatabdi and has a top speed limit of 160 kmph and improved facilities while you train. It seeks to give travelers a completely fresh traveling experience.
The impact of Vande Bharat Express speed, which satisfies international performance, safety, and passenger comfort criteria while costing less than half of international pricing, might completely alter the rail industry worldwide.
Features of Vande Bharat Express Train
- 7 Vande Bharat Express Trains have currently traveled 23 lakh kilometers cumulatively, which is the equivalent of 58 circles of the earth.
- Better speed and braking are made possible by the Vande Bharat Express train’s sophisticated drive train.
- In Vande Bharat Express there are bio-vacuum toilets in every bathroom.
- The lighting is dual-mode, with diffused lighting for overall illumination and individual lighting for each seat.
- Each coach is equipped with a pantry where hot food and hot and cold drinks can be served.
- For growth in passenger comfort, the insulation is designed to limit noise and heat levels to extremely low levels.
- 16 air-conditioned coaches, including 2 executive class coaches, compensate the Vande Bharat Express.
- In Vande Bharat Express there are 1,128 people able to sit in total.
- Other facilities are accessible to people with disabilities.
Vande Bharat Express Route list
The following routes are currently served by the eight Vande Bharat Express Train and Vande Bharat Express ticket prices.
1. New Delhi – Shri Vaishno Devi Mata, Katra
- Direction: Traveling to Vaishno Devi via Vande Bharat Express train from New Delhi to Katra reduces the time it would normally take to cover the route from about 9.5 hours to just 8 hours. Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana, and Jammu Tawi are among the stopping points.
- Timing: Except for Tuesday, it is open six days a week. Around 6 am, the train leaves from New Delhi, and at 2 pm, it arrives at Katra. The train leaves from Katra at 3 pm and arrives in New Delhi at 11 pm.
- Ticket fare: Ranges Approximately from Rs 1000 – Rs 3000 per person.
- Food: It is the country’s first vegetarian train because there is no meat or eggs on the menu.
2. New Delhi – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Direction: Kanpur and Allahabad are stops on the train that runs from New Delhi to Varanasi.
- Timing: It leaves New Delhi at 6 am and arrives in Varanasi at 2 pm. It then travels back to New Delhi from Varanasi at 3 pm and arrives at 11 pm. The train reduces the distance traveled from 13 hours to 8 hours. On Monday and Thursday, it is closed.
- Ticket fare: Ranges Approximately from Rs 1000 – Rs 3000 per person.
3. Gandhinagar Capital – Ahmedabad – Mumbai Central
- Direction: This train runs between Gandhinagar and Mumbai and stops in Surat, Vadodara Junction, and Ahmedabad Junction. It was first introduced in September 2022. The quickest in India, this train travels the distance between Gujarat and Maharashtra in under six hours.
- Timing: Except for Sunday, the train runs six days a week.
- Ticket fare: Ranges Approximately from Rs 1000 – Rs 2000 per person.
4. Amb Andaura – New Delhi
- Direction: This train from New Delhi to Himachal Pradesh, which has been inaugurated in October 2022, includes stops in Ambala, Chandigarh, and Anandpur Sahib on its way to Una, where it’s intended to reach.
- Timing: Except Friday, the Vande Bharat Express schedule runs six days a week. Around 5:50 am, it leaves the New Delhi train station, and at 11 am, it reaches Amb Anadaura. The trip takes 5 hours and 25 minutes to finish from Amb Anadaura to New Delhi, leaving at 1 p.m.
- Ticket fare: Ranges Approximately from Rs 1000 – Rs 2000 per person.
5. Mysuru – Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Chennai Central
- Direction: In November 2022, the first Vande Bharat Express train for South India was introduced. The Katpadi and Bengaluru stops are on this train’s route from Chennai to Mysuru.
- Timing: Except for Wednesday, it is open every day of the week. It travels 6.5 hours, leaving Chennai at 5:50 in the morning and arriving in Mysuru Junction at 12:20 in the afternoon. From Mysuru, it leaves at 1:05 in the afternoon and returns to Chennai at 7:30 in the evening.
- Ticket fare: Ranges Approximately from Rs 1000 – Rs 2000 per person.
6. Nagpur, Maharashtra – Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
- Direction: This train from Nagpur to Bilaspur was introduced in December 2022, and it stops in Raipur, Durg, and Gondia.
- Timing: Every day of the week except Saturday the train is in service. Around 2:05 pm, it leaves Nagpur and arrives in Bilaspur at 7:35 pm. The train travels a significant distance in 5.5 hours, leaving Bilaspur Junction at 6:45 in the morning and arriving at Nagpur Junction at 12:15 in the afternoon.
- Ticket fare: Ranges Approximately from Rs 1000 – Rs 2000 per person.
7. Howrah – New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
- Direction: In December 2022, the inaugural Vande Bharat Express in West Bengal ran between Howrah and New Jalpaiguri. Bolpur (Shantiniketan), Malda Town, and Barsoi are also stationed on the route.
- Timing: Wednesday is the only day when the Vande Bharat Express train isn’t running. The train departs Howrah Junction at 5:55 am and arrives in New Jalpaiguri at 1:25 pm, traveling the distance between the two cities in 7-8 hours. The train will subsequently leave New Jalpaiguri at 3:05 PM and arrive in Howrah at 10:35 PM.
- Ticket Fare: Ranges Approximately from Rs 1000 – Rs 2000 per person.
8. Secunderabad, Telangana – Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
- Direction: This high-speed train stops at Warangal, Khammam, Vijayawada Junction, and Rajahmundry on its way from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam, cutting the distance’s travel time by nearly two hours.
- Timing: Except for Sunday, the train runs six days a week. It leaves Secunderabad around three in the afternoon and arrives in Vizag at eleven thirty. The return trip will depart from Vizag at 5:45 am and arrive in Secunderabad at 2:15 pm, taking 8.5 hours to complete the distance.
- Ticket fare: Ranges Approximately from Rs 1000 – Rs 3000 per person.
Vande Bharat Express
The KAVACH (Train Collision Avoidance System) is installed in the Vande Bharat trains for increased operational safety. Four emergency windows have been added to each coach, increasing security. Instead of two platform side cameras, as there were before, there will now be four, including a rearview camera outside the coach. The new coaches are certified for Level-II safety integration for improved train control.
This is a short review of Vande Bharat Express. Vande Bharat Express route not only reduces travel time but also enhances a traveler’s experience with a variety of amenities and services including Wi-Fi connectivity, 32-inch entertainment screens, and much more. It is considerably faster and lighter than other trains in India.
