Vande Bharat Express Train Archives - Lokmarg

Indian Railways Releases Its New All-India Railway Timetable

By LokMarg 3rd October 2023

The Ministry of Railways has released its new all-India railway timetable, titled “Trains at a Glance (TAG),” effective October 1, 2023.

The new “Trains at a Glance” is also available on Indian Railways’ official website (https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,537,2960).

Highlights of the new timetable are the induction of 64 services of Vande Bharat Trains plus 70 other train services; Extension of existing 90 services to other destinations; Increase in frequency of 12 services; Speeding up of 22 services of trains to convert into Superfast Category; Diversion of 20501/02 Agartala-Anand Vihar Rajdhani via Malda, Bhagalpur; And change in timetable of some services in South Eastern Railway for improving their Punctuality.

The new timetable has included 64 services of Vande Bharat Trains and 70 other train services to offer passengers a comfortable and efficient travel experience.

The new timetable is designed to enhance connectivity between various cities and reduce travel time. Passengers are advised to check the departure and arrival timings as per the new timetable. (ANI)

PM To Flag Off 2 Vande Trains From Bengal As ‘Durga Pujo Gift’

By LokMarg 22nd September 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to inaugurate a total of nine Vande Bharat express trains through video conferencing on September 24, of which two will be specifically for West Bengal– one, connecting Patna to Howrah and the other, connecting Ranchi to Howrah. Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the Eastern Railway, Kaushik Mitra has described this move as a “Durga Pujo gift” to Bengal.

“There are already three Vande Bharat trains in West Bengal- Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Junction, Puri-Howrah and New Jalpaiguri Junction-Guwahati. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has allotted another two Vande Bharats for West Bengal- Patna-Howrah and Ranch Howrah. People of West Bengal will be thrilled and take this as a Durgapuja gift from Narendra Modi,” the Eastern Railway CPRO said speaking to ANI on Friday.

The Vande Bharat Express trains will cover Bengal from the Chittaranjan area to Howrah, the CPRO said adding that both the trains will be inaugurated on the 24th and will reach Howrah station at around 10 pm.

On the new-age facilities that will be provided on board the Vande Bharat trains, Mitra said, “The inclination of the chairs has been increased from 17 degrees to 19 degrees. The cushion seating has been improved. We have also changed the colours of the seats from blue to reddish. We have improved the basins and lighting facilities in the washrooms. We have also introduced wheelchair facilities for the specially-abled passengers from the compartment.”

Speaking on passenger feedback about the Vande Bharat trains, the Eastern Railway CPRO said, “Based on the experiences and feedback we have received from passengers, Vande Bharats are more user-friendly, more sophisticated and more comfortable.”

Mitra further said that the Vande Bharat trains will now be the fastest train travelling on this route and will even be faster than the present Rajdhani Express. While the Rajdhani Express takes 7 hours 45 minutes to reach Howrah from Patna, the Vande Bharat express will take only 6 and a half hours.

“Earlier from Patna to Howrah, the fastest train travelling on this route was Rajdhani Express which used to take 7 hours 45 minutes. With this Vande Bharat Express, it will take only 6 and a half hours,” the CPRO said.

The CPRO said that Asansol being an economic hub in West Bengal, the Vande Bharats will help passengers travelling from these regions to Howrah and to Patna in a short span.

“Asansol is an economic hub. Many steel plants are there, many cement factories are growing up there. People from Patna or Asansol can come to Kolkata or reach Patna in a short span,” he said.

Mitra said that several railway stations have been developed as Amrit Bharat stations with modern facilities. “Many stations have been identified as Amrit Bharat stations. A huge amount has been spent on stations like Asansol, Andal and Bardhaman,” he said. (ANI)

Modi Flags Off Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer Vande Bharat Express

By LokMarg 12th April 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday flagged off Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, the world’s first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory via video conferencing on Wednesday.

The inaugural train will run between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations.
The regular service of this Vande Bharat Express will start from Thursday, April 13 and will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt., with stops at Jaipur, Alwar and Gurgaon.

Notably, Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express is Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train.

While flagging off the train, PM Modi said, “Vande Bharat Express enriches the spirit of ‘India First, Always First’. I am happy that Vande Bharat train has today become synonymous with development, modernity, self-reliance and stability. Today’s journey of Vande Bharat will lead us to the journey of developed India tomorrow.”

PM Modi said ever since Vande Bharat started, about 60 lakh people have travelled in these trains. The biggest feature of high-speed Vande Bharat is that it is saving time of the people. From fast speed to beautiful design, Vande Bharat train is endowed with many features, he said.

“Vande Bharat Express will immensely benefit the tourism industry of Rajasthan. I am fortunate to have flagged off the sixth Vande Bharat Express in the last two months.”

According to the schedule drawn up for the newest Vande Bharat Express, it will cover the distance between Delhi Cantt. and Ajmer in 5 hours and 15 minutes.

The present fastest train on the same route, Shatabdi Express, takes 6 hours 15 minutes. The new Vande Bharat Express will be faster by 60 minutes than the present fastest train on the same route.

The train will improve the connectivity to major tourist destinations in Rajasthan, including Pushkar and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, among other places that draw visitors in bulk around the year. Enhanced connectivity will also provide a boost to socio-economic development in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8 flagged off the Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express in Chennai. It was the second train in the semi-high-speed class to be flagged off on the same day after the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express, which rolled out of the Secunderabad Railway Station in Telangana.

Earlier, in January, PM Modi had flagged off India’s eighth Vande Bharat Express between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam.

The launch came a week after Prime Minister Modi flagged off a Vande Bharat Express on the Bhopal-New Delhi route.

The Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express has stops at Nalgonda, Guntur, Ongole, and Nellore stations while it covers its 660 km journey between the cities.

Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously manufactured, semi-high speed and self-propelled train set. The train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities, providing passengers with a faster, more comfortable and more convenient travel experience. (ANI)

Modi To Flag Off Vande Bharat Express From Himachal To Delhi

By LokMarg 12th October 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Himachal Pradesh on Thursday where in Una he will flag off Vande Bharat Express from Una Himachal railway station.

Thereafter, in a public function, Prime Minister will dedicate IIIT Una to the nation and lay the foundation stone of Bulk Drug Park in Una. After that, in a public function at Chamba, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of two hydropower projects and launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III in Himachal Pradesh, read a press statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday.
Prime Minister’s clarion call for Aatmanirbhar Bharat has led to the country moving swiftly towards the attainment of self-reliance across multiple sectors, through the support of various new initiatives of the government. One such key sector is pharmaceuticals, and in order to bring in Aatmanirbharta in this sector, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Bulk Drug Park at Haroli in Una district, which will be built at a cost of over Rs 1900 crore.

According to the press statement, the Park will help reduce dependence on API imports. It is expected to attract investment of around Rs. 10,000 crores and provide employment to more than 20,000 people. It will also give a fillip to economic activities in the region.

Prime Minister will dedicate the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Una to the nation. Its foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister in 2017. Currently, more than 530 students are pursuing studies in this Institute.

Prime Minister will also flag off the inaugural run of the new Vande Bharat Express. Running from Amb Andaura to New Delhi, it will be the fourth Vande Bharat train to be introduced in the country and is an advanced version compared to the earlier ones, being much lighter and capable of reaching higher speeds in a shorter duration. It accelerates to 100 Km/h in just 52 seconds. The introduction of the train will help boost tourism in the region and provide a comfortable and faster mode of travel.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of two hydropower projects – the 48 MW Chanju-III Hydro-electric Project and the 30 MW Deothal Chanju Hydro-electric Project. Both these projects will generate over 270 million units of electricity annually and Himachal Pradesh is expected to get annual revenue of around Rs. 110 crores from these projects.

Prime Minister will also launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III in Himachal Pradesh for the upgradation of around 3125 km of roads in the State. More than Rs. 420 crores has been sanctioned by the Central Government under this phase for the upgradation of 440 km of roads in 15 border and far flung Blocks of the State. (ANI)