Vande Bharat Express: History, Features, and Services

Vande Bharat Express is a prestigious train which represents a remarkable achievement for Indian Railways. They are high-speed, indigenously developed automated train units. It first started its operations on 15th February 2019 between New Delhi and Varanasi.

About Vandebharat Express

Vande Bharat Express is the second fastest passenger train running in India after the Gatimaan Express. It was inaugurated in 2019 by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.

History of Vandebharat Express

Initially, it was named Train 18 but was renamed ‘Vandebharat Express’ to acknowledge the fact that it was completely built in India. The specifications for the train were also standardised by the Research Designs and Standards Organisations (RDSO). It was made for operational optimisation with low-cost maintenance. The estimated cost for a 16-coach Vande Bharat train is about ₹116 crore.

How Vandebharat Express Came into Existence?

Indian Railways maximised efforts from past years to upgrade the safety of the trains. In 2016, Railways decided to focus on speed and comfort by joining hands with China, France, and Germany for the manufacturing of modern train coaches. But the foreign semi-high-speed trains were unsuccessful. Indian Railways decided to build the trains in India, cutting the import costs and making it more reliable.

The train was planned to be operational in 2018, naming it the ‘Train 18’. The Train 18 was equipped with modern facilities like ACs, Wi-Fi, automatic doors, etc. The train has 16 chair cars and a running speed of 160 km/h, exceeding the services and speed of the Shatabdi Express. During the trial runs, Train 18 became the fastest EMU train in India after attaining a speed of 180 km/h.

Facilities and Features of Vande Bharat Express

Indian Railways Vande Bharat Express trains are the first semi-high-speed trains in India with modern facilities. Some of the facilities are:

• The train is equipped with a security system named KAVACH
• The operational speed of the train is set up to 160 KM/hr
• Automatic doors for convenience
• Reclining and revolving seats in executive class
• Mobile charging sockets on the seats
• Amenities like bottle cooler, hot case, deep freezer, and water boiler
• Direct and diffused lighting for a pleasant ambience
• Special lavatory for physically challenged passengers
• Emergency exits and fire extinguishers in all the coaches
• Security cameras are installed in all coaches for enhanced safety
• Coaches are equipped with Wi-Fi, smoke alarms, and an odour control system

Vande Bharat Train Schedule

List of Vande Bharat Express Trains

The current operational Vande Bharat train routes are:

Vande Bharat Express Speed

Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high-speed train and is the fastest long-route train in India. The maximum permissible speed of the Vande Bharat train is 160 km/h. During the trial run, the Vande Bharat train clocked a speed of 183 km/h. Most of the Indian railway tracks are not capable of supporting very high speeds, so the average permissible running speed is around 120km/h.

• Maximum Speed: 183 km/h
• Avg Running Speed: 120 km/h

Vande Bharat Inaugural Run

The Inaugural Run of Vande Bharat Express was on 15 February 2019 between New Delhi and Varanasi. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This Vande Bharat route begins from New Delhi Railway Station to Varanasi Junction via Kanpur and Prayagraj. The train covered a distance of 762 km in just 8 hours. The second Vande Bharat Express started running from Delhi to Katra (Jammu and Kashmir).

Mini Vande Bharat Express

The mini Vande Bharat train has 8 coaches and all the facilities of the 16-coach Vande Bharat Express. It is a mini version of Vande Bharat Express for the shorter routes of 4-5 hours. The mini version is planned to operate on shorter routes with less traffic and crowd.

Vande Metro

Vande Metro is a proposed service to cover a distance of around 100 km. The projected speed and frequency of Vande Metro will be around 130 km/h and will run 5-6 times a day.

Vande Sadharan Services

Vandhe Sadharan will be a non-AC train with general and sleeper coaches for long-distance operations. It is planned to replace the Jan Sadharan Express and Antyodaya Express. The Vande Sadharan train will have 24 coaches and two locomotives at both the front and rear ends to ensure efficient acceleration. Vande Sadharan trains will have features like bio-vacuum toilets, CCTV cameras, and charging points at every seat.

Upcoming Vande Bharat Express

Indian Railways is working on the new routes for Vande Bharat Express. The upcoming Vande Bharat trains include Patna-Howrah, Jaipur-Udaipur, Hyderabad-Chennai, Ranchi-Howrah, Chennai-Tirunelveli, Puri-Rourkela, Indore-Jaipur, Jamnagar-Ahmedabad, and Jaipur-Chandigarh.

How to Book a Ticket in Vande Bharat Express

There are many options to book a ticket in Vande Bharat, on the website, app, or through a third party. These are some basic steps for Vande Bharat train booking:

• Go to the IRCTC official website or download the app of IRCTC for Vande Bharat Express booking.
• Register yourself on the portal. Already registered users can log in through the credentials.
• Check for the Vande Bharat Express route list and select the dates, origin and destination.
• Now, check the Vande Bharat train timings and availability on the portal.
• Check the Vande Bharat Express ticket prices and select the seats.
• Fill out the details and make the payment. Vande Bharat train route ticket prices vary throughout India.
• The confirmation of the ticket and PNR number will be sent to your registered mobile number and email.

How to Check the Confirmation Status for Vande Bharat Express

To check the status for the confirmation status for the Vande Bharat Express ticket, you can log in to the IRCTC portal and check the status of your booking. The traveller will also receive a text message with the PNR number on their registered mobile and an email on their registered email.

Tips to Book a Confirmed Ticket in Vandebharat

Here are some tips that will help in Vande Bharat Express ticket booking:

• Try to book your tickets 2-3 months before the journey for ample availability.
• Use third-party apps for easy booking.
• For urgent booking, use the Tatkal ticket to confirm your Vande Bharat booking.
• If possible, plan your travel on the weekdays to avoid the rush.
• Why is Vande Bharat Popular?

Vande Bharat is a modern train with facilities like Wi-Fi, CCTV, charging points, and many more which made it a famous choice among travellers. The most important feature of Vande Bharat which attracts business class as well is time saving. It is the fastest long-route train in India with an average running speed of 120 km/hr and few halts. Vande Bharat provides a whole new state-of-the-art experience to travellers with the facilities provided by Indian Railways.

FAQs

Q: What is the Vande Bharat train ticket price?

A: Vande Bharat ticket price ranges from Rs 700 to Rs 3,000 according to the distance and class.

Q: What are the Vande Bharat Express timings?

A: Vande Bharat train timings may vary according to the stations and schedule. You can check the timing of your train on the Vande Bharat trains list.

Q. Where to go for Vande Bharat ticket booking?

A: You can check for Vande Bharat Express train ticket price and then book it on the official IRCTC website and app.