Engineering marvel! Train 18 aka Vande Bharat Express will revolutionise train travel in India: Piyush Goyal

Train 18: Indian Railways minister Piyush Goyal today said that indigenously-produced Vande Bharat Express (earlier known as Train 18) is an engineering marvel that will change our approach to train manufacturing as well as revolutionise train travel in India. Goyal made the statement after launching the report 'The Future of Rail' of International Energy Agency (IEA) at an event in New Delhi today. 

He said that this government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to providing a better future for the country's youth by combating climate change and bringing down our emission levels. 

"The huge investment Railways has achieved in the last 5 years has helped us improve safety, complete long-delayed projects and introduce modern & unprecedented technology in services," said Goyal.

He also highlighted Indian Railway’s successful effort to convert diesel locomotives to electric locomotives as truly innovative and added that it will be a game-changer in the way forward as we move towards 100% electrification for the Indian Railways. Goyal informed that 5 years ago, Railways had electrified about 600 km of tracks across the country. 

"Last year alone, we electrified over 4,000 km, and in the coming year, we aim to electrify over 6,000 km. There is a rising demand for better quality, safer, more comfortable, efficient, reliable and cheap transport and no other form of transport can provide this other than railways," he said.

Chairman of Railway Board, Vinod Kumar Yadav, who was also present on the occasion, said that Railways can play an important role in the sustainable development of the world economy. He added that rail transport is superior to any other form of transport in terms of energy efficiency and being environment friendly.  

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'The Future of Rail' report is the first-of-a-kind report that analyses the current and future importance of rail around the world through the perspective of its energy and environmental implications. This first ever report has a focus on India, elaborating on the unique social and economic role of rail in India, together with its great enduring potential, to show how India can extend and update its networks to harness rail at a scope and scale that is unparalleled.