PM Modi flags off 'Vande Bharat' semi-high speed train

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the maiden run of India's first semi-high speed train 'Vande Bharat Express' from New Delhi Railway Station on Friday.

Union Minister of Railways and Coal, Piyush Goyal led the team of officials and media persons with the Prime Minister aboard the train on its inaugural run.

Vande Bharat Express can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph and has travel classes like Shatabdi Train but with better facilities in a bid to provide a totally new travel experience to passengers.

The train, which is being seen as the next major leap for Indian Railways in terms of speed and convenience, will cover the distance between New Delhi and Varanasi in 8 hours taking stops at Kanpur and Allahabad. It has 16 coaches (2 executive chair car and 14 chair car) and will run on all days except Monday and Thursday.

All coaches of the train are equipped with automatic doors, GPS based audio-visual passenger information system, onboard hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purposes, and bio-vacuum toilets. The fully air-conditioned train will move with all gates closed. Every coach has a pantry with the facility to serve hot meals, hot and cold beverages.

Adding up the green footprints, this fully 'Make in India' train has regenerative braking system in the coaches which can save up to 30 per cent of electrical energy.

Vande Bharat Express is designed and developed by a Chennai-based Railways Production unit, Integral Coach Factory in just 18 months which also includes the in-house design and manufacture, computer modelling and working etc.