Madhya Pradesh

• 28 Jun 2023

PM flags off 5 new Vande Bharat Express trains from Rani Kamlapati Railway Station, Bhopal

Why in News?

On June 27, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off five new & upgraded versions of Vande Bharat Express trains connecting the capitals of Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka at Rani Kamlapati station in Bhopal.

Key Points:

• Ushering a new era of rail travel with a comfortable and enhanced experience, five new Vande Bharat Express trains have been introduced between Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur, Rani Kamlapati-Indore, Goa (Madgaon)-Mumbai, Ranchi-Patna and Dharwad-Bengaluru.
• With the addition of these five new Vande Bharat Express trains, a total of 23 Vande Bharat trains are now operational in the country. These trains are saving several hours in travel time as compared to the fastest trains currently running on various routes.
• These Vande Bharat trains will improve connectivity between various state capitals and other cities, reduce travel time and make travel more comfortable.
• Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express
  • The Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Rani Kamlapati railway station and reach Jabalpur station the same day, stopping at Narsinghpur, Pipariya & Narmadapuram railway stations.
  • Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express will connect Mahakaushal Kshetra (Jabalpur) with Madhya Pradesh Central Region (Bhopal).
  • With the commencement of the operation of Vande Bharat Train, the connectivity of Jabalpur, the cultural capital of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal and surrounding religious & tourist places will increase as well as the all-around development of this area.
  • This train will run from Bhopal to Jabalpur for 340 km. The distance will now be covered in four and a half hours.
• Rani Kamlapati-Indore Vande Bharat Express
  • Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Bhopal railway station & stop at Ujjain railway station and reach Indore station on the same day.
  • The Vande Bharat train will run between Rani Kamlapati and Indore covering a distance of 269 km from Bhopal to Indore. The distance will now be covered in three and a half hours. At the same time, it will become an important medium to connect the culture, tourism and pilgrimage sites of these areas.
• Goa (Madgaon)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express:
  • The Goa (Madgaon)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station and reach Madgaon station the same day, stopping at Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Khed, Ratnagiri, Kankavli and Thivim railway stations.
  • This state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express will provide a means for the people of the Konkan region to travel with speed and comfort. This will boost tourism in the region. It is expected that the new Vande Bharat train running on this route will add new dimensions to the convenience of tourists.
• Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat Express:
  • Ranchi-Patna's new Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Patna and reach Ranchi station the same day, stopping at Gaya, Koderma, Hazaribagh, Barkakana and Mesra railway stations.
  • Rich in abundant mineral resources, Ranchi is an ideal place for mineral-based industries. This train will prove to be beneficial for local traders and businessmen in terms of establishing fast connectivity with Patna.
• Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express
  • The Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express train will depart from KSR Bengaluru City and reach Dharwad station the same day, stopping at Yeshwantpur, Davangere and Hubli railway stations.
  • In Karnataka, the Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat train vidya will connect Kashi Dharwad, the commercial town, Hubli and Bengaluru. This Vande Bharat train will connect North Karnataka with South Karnataka.
• The Vande Bharat Express trains offer a variety of superior facilities, which will provide passengers with a world-class comfortable travel experience and advanced state-of-the-art security arrangements including armour technology.
• Each train covers a distance of 160 km. Coaches equipped with fully suspended traction motors have been provided for operational speeds of up to 100 mph. The advanced state-of-the-art suspension system ensures smooth and safe travel and better comfortable riding for the passengers.
• These trains have been designed with an aim to boost the green emissions of Indian Railways by saving about 30 per cent electricity along with power cars and advanced regenerative braking systems.