Vande Bharat Express trains, recognized as India’s premier semi-high speed rail service, have effectively transported more than twenty million passengers until March 31 of this year. The Vande Bharat Express was initially introduced by Indian Railways between Delhi and Varanasi on February 15, 2019.
Indian Railways celebrates its 171st anniversary in April, commemorating the historic inaugural train journey in 1853 from Mumbai to Thane.
As per a PTI report, officials have stated that the Vande Bharat Express now represents the modernization of the railway network into a contemporary system.
The Vande Bharat Express journey commenced five years ago with train services between Delhi and Varanasi. Presently, based on railway data, there are 102 Vande Bharat train services operational on 100 different routes, covering 284 districts in 24 states and Union Territories.
An official from the railway was quoted saying, “The distance covered by Vande Bharat trains in the financial year 2023-24 is equivalent to circling the Earth 310 times.” Indian Railways mentions that this modern train, furnished with top-notch passenger amenities, operates on distributed-power technology for swift acceleration and deceleration, ensuring a comfortable journey.
Railway authorities have highlighted the successful implementation of the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative by introducing the indigenous semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express train. This train has gained significant popularity, especially among the younger generation, as evident from the passenger data.
Since its launch on February 15, 2019, more than two crore passengers have opted to travel on this train due to its exceptional amenities, comparable to those found on airplanes, according to an official statement.
The official further stated, “Passengers seem to appreciate the train’s speed, comfortable seating, sound-proof coaches, wifi services, GPS-based passenger information system, pantry facilities in each coach, and the transparent large-sized windows that offer a picturesque view of the countryside’s natural beauty, among other features.”
The introduction of more Vande Bharat trains, including the sleeper variant, is currently being undertaken by the railways.
“The Sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train was recently showcased by the Railway Minister during his visit to a rail unit in Bengaluru,” stated the official.