Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/railways-indian-railway-operating-136-vande-bharat-trains-across-country-vaishnaw-3679463/
Publisher: The Financial Express
The Indian Railways has 136 Vande Bharat train services in operation, equipped with state-of-the-art safety features and modern passenger amenities as of November 21, 2024. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha about these advancements in a written reply on Wednesday.
Enhanced Safety and Modern Amenities
Vande Bharat trains come with the advanced automatic train protection system KAVACH, ensuring greater safety. They also feature faster acceleration, fully-sealed gangways, automatic plug doors, and improved ride comfort. For passengers, the trains offer modern amenities like a mini pantry with hot cases, bottle coolers, deep freezers, and hot water boilers.
Current Services and Regional Coverage
The minister highlighted that 22 Vande Bharat train services currently cater to Maharashtra. Meanwhile, the New Delhi-Kathgodam route is served by three mail/express services, including the Kathgodam-New Delhi Shatabdi Express. He assured that introducing new train services, including Vande Bharat variants, is a continuous process based on traffic needs, operational feasibility, and resource availability.
Speed and Occupancy
Vaishnaw clarified there are no plans to reduce the speed of Vande Bharat trains, which operate at the maximum permissible speed for each route to optimize performance. During 2024-25 (up to October), these trains reported an overall occupancy exceeding 100 per cent, indicating their popularity among passengers.
Through the Rail Anubhav feedback system on the RailMadad portal, the Railways received over 51,346 responses regarding Vande Bharat services between July and November 2024. These insights help the Railways continuously improve services.
The government’s focus on expanding the Vande Bharat network reaffirms its commitment to offering faster, safer, and more comfortable travel options across India.
