PM Modi Flags Off 10 New Vande Bharat Trains: Indian Railways Expands Network and Enhances Travel Experience

Today marks a significant milestone for Indian Railways and train enthusiasts as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 10 new Vande Bharat trains, expanding the total count to over 50 and extending the network to cover 45 nationwide routes.

In his address, PM Modi emphasized that the nation’s development progress over the past decade is just the beginning of a brighter future. He highlighted the inauguration and foundation laying of various railway projects as a testament to the country’s determination and willpower. Urging the youth to shape the future of the nation and its railway system, Modi emphasized that the newly inaugurated services are for the present generation, while the foundation stones laid to ensure a promising future.

Indian Railways currently operates 41 Vande Bharat Express services, connecting states through Broad Gauge electrified networks across 24 states and 256 districts. Reports indicate that six routes, including Delhi-Katra, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Delhi-Varanasi, Mysuru-Chennai, Kasaragod–Thiruvananthapuram, and the new Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad route, will now feature two Vande Bharat trains.

In addition to the new routes, PM Modi extended four existing Vande Bharat trains: Gorakhpur-Lucknow to Prayagraj, Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod to Mangaluru, Ahmedabad-Jamnagar to Dwarka, and Ajmer-Delhi Sarai Rohilla to Chandigarh.

Introduced by Indian Railways in 2019, the Vande Bharat Express started as a prototype for faster travel. Over time, the train has undergone enhancements, featuring faster acceleration and deceleration, ambient lighting, aircraft-style toilets, personalized reading lights, automatic interconnecting doors, fully sealed gangways, modern luggage racks, European-style seats, and more.

Furthermore, reports reveal that Indian Railways is working on a sleeper version of the Vande Bharat Express for overnight travel. A prototype is being manufactured in Bengaluru by BEML, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently inaugurating the car body of the sleeper version.