Vande Bharat Express: Pioneering India’s Self-Reliance in Rail Travel

New Delhi, September 23, 2023 – In a remarkable testament to India’s self-reliance and commitment to innovation, the Vande Bharat Express has emerged as a symbol of pride and progress. This cutting-edge semi-high-speed train, designed and manufactured entirely within India, embodies the vision of “Make in India” championed by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The journey of Vande Bharat Express began with the collective and unwavering efforts of India’s skilled workforce, resulting in the creation of the country’s first semi-high-speed train that rivals global standards in performance, comfort, and safety.

Setting New Standards: Speed and Safety

The Vande Bharat Express sets new benchmarks in rail travel, offering passengers a world-class experience with modern amenities. Its enhanced speed and safety features have revolutionized Indian Railways.

Maiden Journey: A Historic Moment

On February 15, 2019, history was made as Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express train from New Delhi Railway Station. This iconic train commenced its journey on the New Delhi – Kanpur – Allahabad – Varanasi route.

Connecting the Nation: Vande Bharat Express Routes

The Vande Bharat Express network has expanded to connect various states across India, providing efficient and comfortable travel options. Here are some of the key routes:

1. New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express (Uttar Pradesh & Delhi)
2. New Delhi – Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express (Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir)
3. New Delhi – Amb Andaura Vande Bharat Express (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab & Himachal Pradesh)
4. Bilaspur – Nagpur Vande Bharat Express (Chhattisgarh & Maharashtra)
5. MGR Chennai Central – Mysuru Vande Bharat Express (Tamil Nadu & Karnataka)
6. Mumbai Central – Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express (Gujarat & Maharashtra)
7. Howrah – New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express (West Bengal)
8. Visakhapatnam – Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana)
9. Mumbai CSMT – Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat Express (Maharashtra)
10. Mumbai CSMT – Solapur Vande Bharat Express (Maharashtra)
11. MGR Chennai Central – Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express (Tamil Nadu)
12. Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana)
13. Rani Kamalapati (Habibganj) – Hazrat Nizamuddin Vande Bharat Express (Madhya Pradesh, Delhi & Uttar Pradesh)
14. Delhi Cantonment – Ajmer Vande Bharat Express (Delhi, Haryana & Rajasthan)
15. Kasaragod – Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express (Kerala)
16. Howrah – Puri Vande Bharat Express (West Bengal & Odisha)
17. Anand Vihar Terminal – Dehradun Vande Bharat Express (Delhi, Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand)
18. Guwahati – New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express (West Bengal & Assam)
19. Bengaluru – Dharwad Vande Bharat Express (Karnataka)
20. Mumbai – Goa Vande Bharat Express (Maharashtra, Goa)
21. Bhopal – Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express (Madhya Pradesh)
22. Patna – Ranchi Vande Bharat Express (Bihar, Jharkhand)
23. Indore – Bhopal Vande Bharat Express (Madhya Pradesh)
24. Jodhpur – Sabarmati Vande Bharat Express (Rajasthan, Gujarat)
25. Gorakhpur – Lucknow Vande Bharat Express (Uttar Pradesh)

New Additions: 9 Gems of Vande Bharat Fleet

Continuing its growth, the Vande Bharat Express fleet has expanded to include nine new routes, further connecting various regions of the country:

1. Rourkela – Bhubaneswar – Puri Vande Bharat Express (Odisha)
2. Udaipur – Jaipur Vande Bharat Express (Rajasthan)
3. Patna – Howrah Vande Bharat Express (Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal)
4. Ranchi – Howrah Vande Bharat Express (Jharkhand, West Bengal)
5. Kasargod – Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express (Kerala)
6. Jamnagar- Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express (Gujarat)
7. Tirunelveli – Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat Express (Tamil Nadu)
8. Hyderabad- Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express (Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka)
9. Chennai – Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh)

Enhanced Passenger Experience: 25 Upgraded Features

The Vande Bharat Express has undergone significant improvements, focusing on passenger comfort and convenience. Some of the noteworthy enhancements include:

• Increased seat reclination angle for greater comfort.
• Optimized cushion hardness for improved seating.
• Aesthetic changes, such as the color of seats.
• Enhanced accessibility to mobile charging points.
• Improved washbasin design in lavatories.
• Upgraded lighting in toilets.
• Enhanced grip on toilet handles.
• Water tap aerators for better water flow control.
• Standardized colors for toilet panels.
• Provisions for securing wheelchairs for Divyangjan passengers.
• Improved aesthetics and firmness inside coaches.
• Enhanced emergency features.
• Upgraded fire detection and suppression systems.

The Vande Bharat Express continues to evolve, setting higher standards for rail travel in India. With a total of 68 services, it remains a shining example of India’s journey toward self-reliance and modernization in the railway sector.