In a significant move to enhance its upgraded and superfast express fleet, Indian Railways is gearing up to launch 60 new Vande Bharat Express trains in 2024 across 14 states and two Union Territories, according to sources. The ambitious expansion follows the introduction of 34 Vande Bharat trains in 2023. The Railways anticipates taking delivery of nearly 70 new Vande Bharat trains in 2024, with approximately 60 slated for launch before November 15.
A senior official involved in the discussions shared insights into the plans, stating, “As part of the production plan for Vande Bharat trains and rakes, Indian Railways expects to take delivery of nearly 70 trains in 2024, and around 60 of them will be before November 15, which will be launched on new routes.”
Routes for the Vande Bharat Express trains are selected through comprehensive discussions and case studies involving state governments, Indian Railways, and independent consultants. The Railways has identified 35 pairs of cities for potential Vande Bharat Express service launches, with ongoing case studies for another 50 pairs.
List of Vande Bharat Trains Connecting Religious Cities from Delhi:
- Ayodhya – New Delhi
- Varanasi – New Delhi
- Katra – New Delhi, etc.
Proposed Vande Bharat Services and Routes:
- Jammu–Srinagar
- Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central
- Mumbai CSMT–Shegaon
- Pune–Belagavi
- Pune–Vadodara
- Pune–Shegaon
- Pune–Secunderabad
- Mangaluru–Bangaluru
- Mumbai LTT–Kolhapur
- Visakhapatnam–Tirupati
- Guruvayur–Rameswaram
- Tatanagar–Varanasi
- Shillong–Mendipathar
- Raipur–Varanasi
- Raipur–Puri
- Lucknow–Dehradun
- Lucknow–Patna
- Kolkata–Rourkela
- Kanpur–Kathgodam
- Prayagraj–Agra
The Railway Ministry has directed Chief Passenger Transportation Managers of Zonal Railways to identify viable Origin-Destination (OD) pairs based on demand. The Railways is also considering launching Vande Bharat trains on routes where air connectivity is more affordable.
Several states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala, have expressed interest and provided potential routes to Indian Railways. The government aims to introduce 18 new routes by June 2024, followed by the launch of four new routes every fortnight.
The Railways Ministry plans to unveil new Vande Bharat trains on 34 routes in northern states and 25 trains on routes in southern India. Notable routes for 2024 include Mumbai to Shegaon, Pune to Shegaon, Belagavi to Pune, Raipur to Varanasi, and Kolkata to Rourkela.
Gujarat is set to receive two new Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Vadodara to Pune. Additionally, work is nearly completed to launch Vande Bharat Trains along the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link.
Presently, Indian Railways operates 41 Vande Bharat trains across the country, with Northern Railways and Southern Railways running eight trains each. Other sections, including Eastern Railways, North Eastern Railways, Northeast Frontier Railways, South East Central Railways, and South Western Railways, operate the remaining trains.
Government’s Plan To Run 4,500 Vande Bharat Trains By 2047: The Central Government envisions running 4,500 Vande Bharat trains by 2047, as per Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Contracts for 402 Vande Bharat Trains have already been awarded, with deliveries expected to conclude by 2027. The introduction of these high-tech trains aims to provide faster and more comfortable rail transportation for passengers.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has outlined plans to launch two to three train sets from railway stables every week by the next year. Manufacturing of Vande Bharat trains will also take place in Haryana’s Sonipat and Maharashtra’s Latur, in addition to ICF Chennai.
The first Vande Bharat train was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. These semi-high-speed trains, featuring 16 self-propelled coaches without the need for an engine, utilize a distributed traction power system for higher acceleration and deceleration compared to traditional trains.
