New Delhi, Metro Rail News: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on February 15, 2019, flagged off the Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi Railway Station in the presence of Railway Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and other senior officials from the railways.
The mood of the ceremony was muted in the backdrop of the 14 February Pulwama, counted among the bloodiest in Kashmir terror attack that left 44 CRPF jawans martyred. PM Modi, speaking at the event, said the country will give a “strong response” to this attack.
Before flagging off the train, PM Shir Narendra Modi spoke to senior officials associated with the construction of the Vande Bharat Express formally Train 18.
PM Shri Narendra Modi on board of Vande Bhart Express 
He also took a tour of one of the coaches and inspected the driver’s cabin. The PM was seen enquiring about the design and the facilities provided to the passengers. He was shown how the driver of the train can see the happenings inside the coaches with the help of on-board CCTV cameras.
PM Said “I am grateful to designers and engineers behind Vande Bharat Express which will take its first trip from Delhi to Varanasi today. With our sincerity and hard work in the last 4.5
The train that was flagged off by the PM today will travel from Delhi to Varanasi in nine hours and forty-five minutes. This includes stoppage time of 40 minutes each at Kanpur and Allahabad where there will be special programmes.
According to
The Vande Bharat Express, India’s first semi-high speed train, has been produced indigenously at the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, in 18 months under make in India initiative on the cost of 100 cr.
Previously called Train 18, the Vande Bharat Express is engineless and can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph though it clocked 180 kmph during a trial run.
Train 18 is Designed and constructed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the train was flagged off by Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani on 29 October.
Vande Bharat Express has 16 coaches and the same number of seats as in a Shatabdi Express, which it will replace. The total seating capacity is 1,128 passengers.
The fares of the train are 40 per cent higher than that of Shatabdi.
Passenger comfort has been given detailed attention. Features include CCTVs, onboard Wi-Fi and infotainment, rotational seats, modular and disabled-friendly toilets with bio-vacuum systems, automatic doors with retractable footsteps among other features.
Every coach has a pantry facility to serve hot meals and, hot and cold beverages. The insulation is meant to keep heat and noise to very low levels for additional passenger comfort.
Besides the speed, Vande Bharat Express has an advanced array of features including energy-efficient coaches which leave less carbon footprint and braking system which can save up to 30 per cent of electrical energy. Every alternate coach is motorised to ensure even distribution of power in the train.
The train has driver coaches at both ends – like metro and local trains across the country.
The bookings for the train have begun and it will run commercially from 17 February from Delhi to Varanasi five days a week.
Time-Table of Vande Bharat Express
Vande Bharti Express will run five days a week on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays.
Days: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
Train No. 22435 (New Delhi – Varanasi) / Vande Bharat Express
New Delhi – Departure: 06.00 hrs
Kanpur – Arrival: 10.18 hrs, Departure: 10.20 hrs
Prayagraj – Arrival: 12.23 hrs, Departure: 12.25 hrs
Varanasi – Arrival: 14.00 hrs
Train No. 22436 (Varanasi – New Delhi) / Vande Bharat Express
Varanasi – Departure: 15.00 hrs
Prayagraj – Arrival: 16.15 hrs, Departure: 16.37 hrs
Kanpur – Arrival: 18.30 hrs, Departure: 18.32 hrs
New Delhi – Arrival: 23.00 hrs
Fares of Vande Bharat Express (Train – 18)
Train Fares (Between New Delhi – Varanasi)
AC Chair Car – Rs.1760/-
Executive Class – Rs.3310/-
Train Fares (Between Varanasi – New Delhi)
AC Chair Car – Rs.1700/-
Executive Class – Rs.3260/-
