In a first, Indian Railways to launch 5 Vande Bharat Trains simultaneously, check details here

In an unprecedented move, the Indian Railways is all set to launch five new Vande Bharat Express trains simultaneously. The launch event will take place on June 26 and will be marked by the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will inaugurate the new trains via video conferencing. 

The new routes for the Vande Bharat Express trains will include Mumbai-Goa, Bengaluru-Hubballi-Dharwad, Patna-Ranchi, Bhopal-Indore, and Bhopal-Jabalpur. The simultaneous operation of five Vande Bharat trains on the same day marks a first for the Indian Railways. With the new launches, the total number of Vande Bharat trains in the country will increase to 23 trains. 

What Are Vande Bharat Trains?

As India's first indigenously manufactured semi-high-speed trainset, Vande Bharat trains represent a giant leap for the Indian Railways. Equipped with advanced amenities such as GPS-based passenger information systems, Wi-Fi, and CCTV cameras, these trains aim to provide a modern and comfortable rail travel experience. These trains are different from high-speed express trains, like Japan’s Shinkansen, the Chinese MagLev, and France’s LGV as the Vande Bharat only reaches speeds of up to 160 kmph. In comparison high speed express trains can reach speeds of as much as 550 kmph. Despite the difference, the Vande Bharat Express trains are still one among the fastest trains in India and the only ones which are indigenously built and designed. 

New Vande Bharat Train routes

Mumbai-Goa

The Mumbai-Goa route is one of the five new routes to be launched. The launch of the Vande Bharat train on this route was earlier cancelled due to the tragic rail accident in Odisha.

Bengaluru-Hubballi-Dharwad

The Bangalore-Hubballi-Dharwad route is another addition to the Vande Bharat network. This train will facilitate easier and faster connectivity between the two cities while boosting trade and tourism. This is the second Vande Bharat Express train for Karnataka.

Patna-Ranchi

The Patna-Ranchi route marks the first semi-high-speed train connection between the two cities. The Vande Bharat train will drastically reduce travel time, benefiting a significant number of commuters.

Bhopal-Indore

The Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat train will enhance connectivity between two of Madhya Pradesh's most populous cities. This launch is expected to promote economic development in the region.

Bhopal-Jabalpur

Another route being introduced is Bhopal-Jabalpur, which will serve as a boon to travellers and businessmen commuting between these two important cities of Madhya Pradesh.

A somber launch in light of the Odisha tragedy

The upcoming simultaneous launch of the five Vande Bharat trains will be a relatively subdued event in the wake of the tragic Odisha train accident, which resulted in the loss of 288 lives. The train crash in Odisha on June 2, involved three trains - Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train. It was one of the worst rail disasters in decades with over 290 fatalities and nearly 1,000 injuries. A preliminary report suggested that a signaling failure led to the Coromandel Express entering the loop line instead of the main line, resulting in a collision with a stationary goods train at a speed of 128 kmph near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now taken over the case to probe into the accident.

Vande Bharat Trains and the transformation of Indian Railways

The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express trains is part of a larger transformation that Indian Railways has been undergoing over the last nine years under the Modi government.

This transformation includes the modernisation of railway stations, the introduction of new services, and improvements in passenger convenience. Indian Railways aims to launch 75 Vande Bharat trains by August 15 this year.