Vande Bharat Express

PM flags off India's first Vande Bharat sleeper train from Bengal's Malda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the country's first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda Town station in north Bengal. He also virtually flagged off the return GuwahatiHowrah Vande Bharat sleeper train from here. Developed to meet the growing transportation needs of modern India, the fully AC Vande Bharat sleeper train would offer passengers an airline-like travel experience at economical fares, a statement issued by the PMO stated. The train will make long-distance journeys faster, safer, and more convenient, it said. "By significantly reducing travel time by around 2.5 hours on the Howrah Guwahati route, the train will also give a major boost to religious travel and tourism, the statement added. Later at a public programme in Malda, the PM is scheduled to dedicate to the nation, and lay the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects, worth Rs 3,250 crore, aimed at strengthening connectivity and

Updated On: 17 Jan 2026 | 3:16 PM IST

Assam luxury hospitality firm bags catering contract for Vande Bharat Train

An Assam-based luxury hospitality brand has secured the catering contract for India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, marking a first for a Northeast-based hospitality firm to bring its curated cuisine onboard the premium overnight service. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off the train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda Town station in north Bengal. Mayfair Spring Valley Resort on Saturday said it has partnered with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) as the official caterer for the train. Under the arrangement, passengers will be served a range of traditional West Bengal and Assam dishes prepared using locally sourced ingredients, a statement said. The menu includes items such as basanti pulao, cholar and moong dal, chanar and dhokar preparations, Assamese joha rice, mati mohor and masoor dali, seasonal vegetable bhajis, and regional sweets like sandesh, coconut burfi and rasgulla. The resort informed that the onboard men

Updated On: 17 Jan 2026 | 3:16 PM IST

BHEL begins supply of Vande Bharat train transformers from Jhansi unit

State-owned engineering firm Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) on Thursday said that it has started the supply of semi-high-speed underslung traction transformers for the Vande Bharat sleeper train project from its Jhansi plant. BHEL, in a statement, said the supply of underslung traction transformers for the prestigious Vande Bharat Sleeper Train project is a significant milestone in its 'Make in India' initiatives. Vande Bharat Sleeper Train project is being executed by a BHEL-led consortium with TRSL. A flag-off ceremony was held at BHEL's Jhansi plant. Earlier, traction converters for the same project were flagged off from BHEL's Bengaluru plant. This development further strengthens BHEL's strategic entry into the semi-high-speed propulsion segment, with an operational speed of up to 160 kmph and a design speed of 180 kmph. Traction transformers are being dispatched to Kolkata for final assembly of the Vande Bharat sleeper trains. In addition, another key propulsion system

Updated On: 15 Jan 2026 | 3:42 PM IST

First Vande Bharat sleeper train to start in Jan: Check route, fares

The train service will connect Howrah in West Bengal with Guwahati in Assam and is aimed at offering a faster and more affordable alternative to air travel

Updated On: 01 Jan 2026 | 3:59 PM IST

Vande Bharat sleeper clears final high-speed trial at 180 kmph: Railways

Indian Railways has achieved a significant milestone in its journey towards self-reliant rail technology with the successful completion of the final high-speed trial of the indigenously designed Vande Bharat sleeper train, ministry officials said on Wednesday. "The trial, conducted under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), took place on the Kota-Nagda section, where the train achieved a maximum speed of 180 kmph," it added, without specifying a new date for its launch. The Vande Bharat sleeper train has missed several launch deadlines in the past. In mid-November, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that this train would be launched in December 2025. Vaishnaw shared a video of the safety trial on his social media handle X on December 30, showcasing a water-glass stability demonstration, in which glasses filled with water remained steady without spillage even at high speed. "Vande Bharat Sleeper tested today by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, ran at 1

Updated On: 31 Dec 2025 | 4:39 PM IST

PM Modi flags off four Vande Bharat trains: Key routes, time and stations

The new Vande Bharat routes will cover a mix of cultural, religious, industrial, and commercial hubs, making intercity travel faster and more efficient

Updated On: 08 Nov 2025 | 11:01 AM IST

Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat launched, first to link 3 southern states

The Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat, one of the four trains that Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off on Saturday, is the first inter-state semi-high-speed premium train service linking Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the Southern Railways said. Since it links three states, the train will boost business and tourism, officials said. The eight-coach train traverses major cities of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, before reaching Krishnarajapuram and KSR Bengaluru. It is the third Vande Bharat train that originates from Kerala. "KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express will provide seamless connectivity between Ernakulam, the commercial capital of Kerala and the cosmopolitan city of Bengaluru," a press note from Southern Railway said. "The existing two Vande Bharat services, between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram (via Kottayam), and Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru Central (via Alappuzha) intertwine the southern

Updated On: 08 Nov 2025 | 10:59 AM IST

PM Modi flags off 4 new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi

The new Vande Bharat Express trains will operate on the Banaras-Khajuraho, Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi, and Ernakulam-Bengaluru routes

Updated On: 08 Nov 2025 | 9:12 AM IST

PM Narendra Modi to launch four Vande Bharat Express trains on Saturday

The new Vande Bharat trains will connect Banaras-Khajuraho, Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi, and Ernakulam-Bengaluru, cutting travel time and boosting regional connectivity

Updated On: 06 Nov 2025 | 9:04 PM IST

Bengaluru-Kochi Vande Bharat schedule announced, services to begin soon

The Ministry of Railways has announced the schedule for the new BengaluruKochi Vande Bharat Express, which is set to commence operations soon. According to a notification issued by the Railway Board on Friday, train number 26651 KSR BengaluruErnakulam Junction Vande Bharat Express will depart from Bengaluru at 5.10 am and reach Ernakulam Junction at 1.50 pm. The return service, 26652 Ernakulam JunctionKSR Bengaluru, will leave Ernakulam at 2.20 pm and arrive in Bengaluru at 11 pm. The train will have stops at Krishnarajapuram, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, and Thrissur. The ministry has instructed the Southern Railway and South Western Railway zones to introduce the service at the earliest possible date. If required, the inaugural train may be operated as a special service which shall pick up its respective link subsequently, the notification said. This will be the third Vande Bharat Express service in Kerala, after the ThiruvananthapuramKasaragod and ...

Updated On: 01 Nov 2025 | 12:23 PM IST

Vande Bharat 4.0 to be built with focus on exports, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Vande Bharat 4.0 will combine advanced tech and comfort, aiming at export markets and positioning India as a global rail technology supplier

Updated On: 15 Oct 2025 | 2:54 PM IST

Big picture behind small climb in rail fares: Easing strain, minimal impact

Railways increased fares slightly after five years, easing financial strain while keeping passenger impact low; experts call it necessary

Updated On: 13 Jul 2025 | 11:34 PM IST

IRCTC to offer Kashmiri veg meals on Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train

The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will serve local Kashmiri dishes like ambal kaddu, babru, Jammu paratha, rajma, dum aloo, and paneer chaman

Updated On: 26 Jun 2025 | 6:16 PM IST

Srinagar Vande Bharat fully booked for next 10 days: Railway Authority

Station Superintendent at Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, Jugal Kishor Sharma, said the response to the train has far exceeded expectations

Updated On: 11 Jun 2025 | 12:06 PM IST

Watch: Farooq Abdullah takes a ride in Vande Bharat from Srinagar to Katra

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday took his maiden ride in the recently inaugurated Vande Bharat train from Srinagar to Katra township.

Updated On: 10 Jun 2025 | 8:16 PM IST
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Jammu and Kashmir: Schedule released for Vande Bharat trains; Check details

The Railway Ministry has released the schedule for the newly launched Vande Bharat Express trains between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar. Check timings here

Updated On: 06 Jun 2025 | 6:28 PM IST

Kashmir to get two Vande Bharat trains; PM Modi to open key bridges

PM to inaugurate Anji and Chenab bridges and launch Kashmir's first Vande Bharat trains linking the Valley with Jammu and the rest of India via USBRL project

Updated On: 05 Jun 2025 | 6:45 PM IST

Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train service to start operations from Jun 7

The Vande Bharat train service between Katra and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir will start commercial operations from June 7, the Northern Railway said on Thursday. The train will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) platform will start reflecting these trains for prospective passengers to book tickets after the inauguration, an official said. According to Northern Railway, two Vande Bharat train sets will make four trips during the day between Katra and Srinagar. "It has two travelling classes Chair Car (CC) and Executive Class (EC) with tickets costing Rs 715 and Rs 1,320 respectively," an official from the Northern Railway said. The first train will commence from Katra at 8:10 am and reach Srinagar at 11:08 am. The same train will return in the afternoon from Srinagar at 2 PM and reach Katra at 4:58 pm. This train service will not be available on Tuesday. Another train will start from Katra at 2:55

Updated On: 05 Jun 2025 | 2:42 PM IST

India's first Vande Bharat maintenance depot being built in Rajasthan

Four such depots have been planned nationwide, but this is the first one which is under construction, an official said

Updated On: 03 Jun 2025 | 2:35 PM IST

Govt employees can now use LTC for Tejas, Vande Bharat and Humsafar trains

Under the LTC scheme, eligible Central government employees get their ticket costs reimbursed for round trips and also enjoy paid leave during their travel

Updated On: 15 Jan 2025 | 5:29 PM IST