KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): On December 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a new Vande Bharat Express train that will run from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri, providing a second, speedier connection between the state capital Kolkata and northern Bengal. The PM is to visit Kolkata for a National Ganga Council meeting.
The train is anticipated to travel faster than the current Shatabdi Express, which runs roughly 550 km between these two stations in just over 8 hours. A precise timetable is awaited.
It will be the eighth Vande Bharat Express overall and the first in eastern India. The first semi-high-speed train Vande Bharat Express was launched in 2019. The finishing touches are being made to the parking and maintenance facilities at Howrah, the Indian railway station with the highest number of platforms.
This train has more amenities and improved comfort compared to other similar trains. It can reduce travel time by 25% on some routes. 400 Vande Bharat trains with improved energy efficiency will be created and constructed in the next three years, according to an announcement by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget for the current fiscal year.
Automatic doors and Wi-Fi internet access are included on all coaches.
