November 2, 11:04Aaj Tak

Transport Minister Announces Start of Vande Bharat Train Exports in the Coming Years

India is witnessing a continuous increase in the number of Vande Bharat trains being launched on new routes in both standard and sleeper configurations. These trains reduce travel time for passengers and significantly enhance comfort. Indian Railways is continuously working to improve this domestic development.

In this regard, Transport Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made an important statement indicating the possibility that Vande Bharat trains will soon operate not only in India but also abroad. He announced that the export of fully assembled Vande Bharat trains will begin within the next few years.

During the inauguration ceremony of the first Vande Bharat sleeper train connecting Bangalore and Mumbai, Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that the export of all Vande Bharat trains will commence in three to four years. He specified that Indian Railways is constantly improving the design of these domestic rakes and has already begun exporting some of its most technologically complex components, including propulsion systems and coaches, to Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, and the USA.

Speaking about the plans to export Vande Bharat trains, the minister noted that these trains reflect the concepts of 'Make in India' and 'Developed India'. Most of their design and manufacturing takes place within the country. According to Ashwini Vaishnaw, 'we are perfecting every version of the Vande Bharat train. With each new version we make improvements based on the lessons learned from the previous version.'

Vaishnaw also mentioned features provided in the Vande Bharat sleeper version intended for passengers using middle and upper berths. Furthermore, advanced coupling devices have been developed to improve comfort and reduce vibration. Recently, the railway company gifted the first Vande Bharat sleeper train to the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The minister also announced that the next Vande Bharat sleeper train from Karnataka will begin its journey in Bangalore, connecting parts of North Karnataka with Hubli, and then heading to Pune and Mumbai. The new service between Karnataka and Maharashtra is expected to strengthen overnight connectivity. Union Home Minister Vi Soma reported that this 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper train will cover a distance of 1118 km in approximately 16 hours, which will reduce travel time by almost eight hours.

The regular Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat service starts on November 2nd from Mumbai and November 3rd from Bangalore. The train will run six days a week, except on Mondays. Departure is at 19:45 in the evening, arriving the next day at 11:55. The return journey from Mumbai departs at 20:10 and arrives in Bangalore at 12:00 on Tuesday. This route will cover important centers such as Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Guntakal, Solapur, and Pune. It is worth noting that after the launch of the Havada-Kamakhya service earlier this year, the Bangalore-Mumbai line became the second Vande Bharat sleeper train in India.

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www.aajtak.inOctober 30, 14:04

High-speed Vande Bharat Sleeper train starts service between Varanasi and Delhi tomorrow

Indian Railways is launching another new Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Its commencement is scheduled for tomorrow, October 31. This route will connect several major cities, running between Varanasi and Delhi.

The train's speed is 160 kilometers per hour, which will allow it to complete the journey faster than other trains. According to Indian Railways information, the trip on the Vande Bharat Sleeper from Baba Vishwanath city to the nation's capital will mark the beginning of a new experience in modern rail travel.

Dr. Shivam Sharma, CPRO of Central Broad Gauge Railway, provided details about the Sleeper Vande Bharat. He stated that the opening of this train will take place on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Varanasi station as a special train number 02527. This special service will provide passengers from Kashi, Sangam Nagari Prayagraj, the industrial city of Kanpur, historical Aligarh, and Ghaziabad with a new mode of connection to the national capital.

This special train, connecting Kashi and the national capital with modern railway amenities and sleeping experience, will add new significance to the link between these two points. Dr. Sharma specified that the special train number 02527, operating on the Banaras–New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper route, will depart from Banaras (BNRS) after noon at 16:15. It will arrive in Prayagraj at 18:00, at Kanpur Central station at 20:05, at Aligarh station at 23:20, depart at 23:22, arrive in Ghaziabad at midnight at 01:10, and reach New Delhi station at 2:00 AM.

The article does not contain detailed information about the train's specifications.

www.aajtak.inOctober 29, 07:17

Vande Bharat Sleeper train will run between Varanasi and Delhi starting October 31

The long-awaited journey between New Delhi and Varanasi is set to become a reality: the 'Vande Bharat Sleeper' train will start operating on these routes from October 31. The grand opening ceremony will be jointly conducted by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This fully air-conditioned rake will accommodate 823 passengers across 16 coaches.

According to railway services, the train's inauguration is scheduled for October 31. On the same day, two MEMU trains will also depart between Varanasi-Prayagraj Rambagh and Varanasi City-Raja Talab. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will attend the opening.

On the launch day, the train will depart from Varanasi at 16:30. It is expected to arrive in New Delhi at 01:30 the following night. It should be noted that the schedule for the inaugural run differs from the regular service timetable.

As per the schedule approved by the Railway Board, train number 27421 will depart from Varanasi at 20:50, arriving in New Delhi at 05:55 AM. The return journey, train number 27422, will leave New Delhi at 21:40 and arrive in Varanasi at 06:45 AM. This rake will operate every day of the week except Saturdays.

The route between Delhi and Varanasi includes three intermediate stops: Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, and Chhipiana Budhgarh. This allows passengers traveling from Delhi to Varanasi, or from these stations, to utilize the train's services.

The train consists of 16 coaches, offering 823 sleeping berths. All coaches are equipped with a full air conditioning system. The types of coaches include 1 First AC coach, 4 AC 2-Tier coaches, and 11 AC 3-Tier coaches, allowing passengers to choose a class of service according to their needs and budget.

To ensure a comfortable long journey, each compartment is equipped with individual reading lamps, three-pin power sockets, and USB Type-A and Type-C charging ports. Furthermore, the train features LED lighting, large windows, ample luggage space, and onboard Wi-Fi access.

The First AC coach offers the facility of a hot shower. To ensure the best service during the long journey, the rake also includes separate staff quarters. According to railway representatives, the goal of all these enhancements is to maintain high service quality and passenger convenience.

Currently, official information regarding fares for the 'Vande Bharat Sleeper' train between New Delhi and Varanasi has not been published as the commercial circular has not yet been released. However, given the level of services provided, it is anticipated that ticket prices will be higher than those of other trains on this route. Passengers must await an official announcement on prices for various categories.

This route will be the second for the 'Vande Bharat Sleeper' train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously launched the first pair of such trains on the Kamakha-Haudra route in January. On that route, it was noted that the cost of the 'Vande Bharat Sleeper' was significantly higher than the Saraighat express: 72% higher in AC 3-Tier, 58% higher in AC 2-Tier, and 16% higher in First AC. The launch of the second train on the Delhi-Varanasi line will provide passengers with an additional option for overnight travel.

www.aajtak.inOctober 20, 06:36

Indian Railways changes schedule for several trains on the Jammu-Katra-Pathankot route

Passengers planning to travel on the Jammu, Katra, or Pathankot route should check the new timetable for their train before heading to the station. Indian Railways has made changes to the schedule of several key trains operating through the Jammu division.

The affected routes include the Vande Bharat Express Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi, Kalka-Katra Express, Kamakhyan Express, as well as the Jabalpur-Katra Express and various DMU trains. Some new schedules take effect from October 20, while changes for other trains are planned for October 21, 22, 23, and 25.

Train number 22478, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, will depart from Katra station at 5:40 AM on October 20. The estimated departure times from major stops are listed below:

Katra: 5:40 AM
Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Station: 6:08 AM
Jammu Tawi: 7:08 AM
Shaheed Captain Sunil Kumar Chaudhary Kathua: 8:01 AM

The Kalka-Katra Express (number 14503) will depart from Jammu Tawi at 3:20 AM on October 20 and from Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Station at 4:12 AM. The train is expected to arrive in Katra at 4:47 AM.

The Katra-Kamakhyan Express (number 15656) will begin its journey from Katra at 3:40 AM on October 21. The departure time from Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Station is set for 4:06 AM.

The Katra-Gadhipur City Express (number 14612) will depart from Katra station at 3:40 AM on October 22.

As for the Sabarmati-Katra Express (number 19415), its departure from Jammu Tawi is scheduled for 4:15 AM on October 25, and from Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Station at 5:16 AM. The train is expected to arrive in Katra at 6:25 AM.

The Jabalpur-Katra Express (number 11449) will leave Jammu at 8:30 AM on October 20 and depart from Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Station at 10:02 AM, with an estimated arrival time in Katra of 11:50 AM.

The DMU train Jammu Tawi-Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan (number 74909) will run from Jammu Tawi at 8:10 AM on October 20 and reach its final destination at 10:10 AM.

According to data for DMU train number 74906, it is scheduled to depart at 8:00 AM and arrive at Pathankot Cantt by noon. Additionally, the departure time for train number 16317 from Jammu is set for 8:30 AM starting October 23.

It is crucial for passengers traveling in the Jammu division to check the updated schedule for their train, considering the date and station. It should be noted that the new timetables do not come into effect simultaneously. To avoid delays at stations or missed trains, it is recommended to verify the current time and train stops on the official railway website or through the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app before starting the journey.