Indian Railways is expanding its fleet with four new types of trains, including Vande Bharat Chair Car, Vande Bharat Sleeper, Namo Bharat, and Amrit Bharat. According to Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, these trains will offer high-quality services to passengers across the country.

Indian Railways conducted the trial run of the first Vande Bharat Express train between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar railway stations on Saturday. This train is expected to pass through the iconic Anji Khad Bridge and Chenab Bridge. The Anji Khad Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, while the Chenab Bridge is the world’s highest railway bridge. Considering the harsh climate of the Kashmir Valley, this unique Vande Bharat train will be a significant milestone in connecting this region to India’s leading semi-high-speed rail network. The new service will enhance connectivity, boost tourism, and improve travel convenience for pilgrims, tourists, and local residents.

Stations the train will pass through: The distance between Katra and Srinagar is 203 km, and the train will pass through 38 tunnels and 927 bridges along the route. The longest tunnel, T-50, is 12.8 km long. The total length of the bridges is approximately 13 km, and the total length of the tunnels is 119 km, meaning half of this route passes through tunnels. This semi-high-speed train will run at a speed of 70 to 75 km per hour. There will be seven stations between the two cities: Reasi, Sawalkot, Sangaldan, Ramban, Banihal, Kazigund, and Bijbehara. The Vande Bharat Express will operate six days a week and complete the 203 km journey in 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Commercial operations are expected to begin in February this year, with the inauguration likely to be conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the first week. The Railway Board is still finalizing the exact date and time. The ticket prices for the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train have not been confirmed yet, but it is estimated that the fare for the AC Chair Car could be around ₹1,500-1,600, while the fare for the Executive Chair Car may range from ₹2,200 to ₹2,500. This will offer passengers a comfortable and luxurious travel experience while enjoying the beautiful views of Kashmir.

On January 23, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared that several countries have shown interest in importing the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains. He mentioned that the Indian diaspora living abroad is also eager to experience this train, and some children have expressed a desire to travel in the Vande Bharat during their visit to India.

Under India’s “Make in India” initiative, the Vande Bharat Express is the country’s first indigenous semi-high-speed train. Its first train was launched on February 15, 2019, between New Delhi and Varanasi, with a maximum speed of 160 km/h. In the financial year 2022-23, approximately 3.184 million passengers traveled on the Vande Bharat train, with an impressive utilization rate of 96.62%. The Vande Bharat trains are known for their superior amenities, safety features, and armor technology. Additionally, facilities like accessible toilets for differently-abled passengers and Braille signage are also available.

Indian Railways is expanding its fleet with four new types of trains, including Vande Bharat Chair Car, Vande Bharat Sleeper, Namo Bharat, and Amrit Bharat. According to Vaishnav, these trains will provide high-quality services to passengers across the country. After the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains reach the testing phase, data is being analyzed before production begins at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.