The central government has been working on an ambitious plan to improve the country’s railway infrastructure and convenience, known as the Vande Bhart Express train initiative, since 2019. These relatively fast trains seek to shorten travel times while offering reasonably priced amenities on a flight. On September 20, 2023, PM Modi inaugurated nine additional Vande Bharat trains, bringing the total to 34. 

The number of operational Vande Bharat lines has reached 34, with the launch of nine new trains in September 2023. This quantity additionally comprises the initial saffron-hued Vande Bharat for Kerala. Read on for information on the route, schedule, and other recent developments regarding this semi-high-speed railway project as the country gets closer to its goal of building 75 Vande Bharat Express trains. 

Vande Bharat Express? 

The Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high-speed railway project initially launched in 2019 on the New Delhi-Varanasi route. Indian Railways is in charge of these trains, also known as Train 18. Super indigenous “Kavach” technology, a train collision avoidance system (TCAS), is used in the Vande Bharat Express trains. 

Among the amenities on these trains are automated doors, an infotainment system, and reclining seats similar to those on airplanes. Though they travel at a rate of 160 kn/h, their maximum speed is 180 km/h. The coaches on the train also have fire direction and communication systems installed. 

Trains on the Vande Bharat Express will begin service in September 2023. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened nine Vande Bharat trains on September 24, 2023, marking the first time in the nation. 

City of Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express 

Except on Tuesdays, the Udaipur City-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express operates six days a week, covering a distance of approximately 435 km in about six hours. Trains leave at 7:05 am from Udaipur City Station and arrive at Jaipur Junction at 2:05 pm. The journey back begins at 3:45 p.m. and arrives in Udaipur City at 10:00 p.m. This route of Vande Bharat will pass through some of the most visited tourist destinations, such as Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, and Kishangarh. 

MGR Chennai Central-Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express 

The 516-kilometer MGR Chennai Central-Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express stops at Tenali, Nellore, Ongole, and Renigunta. It takes less than seven hours to complete. The train, which runs from Vijayawada to its destination at 12:10 p.m., connects the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It leaves at 5:30 a.m. At 3:20 p.m., the return trip departs from Chennai and arrives in Vijayawada at 10:00 p.m. 

Tirunelveli-Egmore, Chennai Vande Bharat Express 

This Vande Bharat route, which ends at Tirunelveli, connects Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Dindigul, and Virudhnagar. It lies entirely in Tamil Nadu. It operates every day of the week except Tuesday and travels a vast 630 km in less than eight hours. This Vande Bharat train runs from Tirunelveli Junction to Chennai Egmore from 6:00 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. and from 2:50 p.m. to 10:40 p.m. on the return trip. 

Vande Bharat Express Kacheguda – Yesvantpur

The Kacheguda-Yesvantpur Vande Bharat Express, the third Vande Bharat train operating in Telangana, travels 609 km in approximately eight and a half hours. The train leaves at 5:30 am from Kacheguda Station and travels through Mahbubnagar, Kurnool City, Dharamavaram Junction, and Anantapur before arriving at Yesvantpur Junction at 2:00 pm. The return timings are from 2:45 pm to 11:15 pm. Except for Wednesdays, the train operates every day of the week. 

Vande Bharat Express Patna-Howrah 

The Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat Express travels 532 km from Patna to Howrah Junction in about six and a half hours. The train stops at Mokama, Asansol, Jasidih, Jamtara, Luckeesarai, and Durgapur. Except Wednesday, it runs six days a week from 8:00 am to 2:35 pm in Patna to Howrah and from 3:50 pm to 10:40 pm in the other direction. 

Vande Bharat Express Ranchi-Howrah  

Between Ranchi and Howarh, the Vande Bharat Express (number 33) and the West Bengal (number 4) travel through Muri, Purulia, Chandil, Tatanagar, and Kharagpur. Operating six days a week (excluding Tuesdays), it covers the 458-kilometer distance in slightly more than seven hours. The train leaves Ranchi at 5:15 a.m. and reaches Howarh at 12:20 p.m. It takes 3:45 p.m. to 10:50 p.m. to return. 

Vande Bharat Express Puri-Rourkela

The Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express, which runs 505 km in seven hours and forty-five minutes, serves Orissa’s key cities. Along the way, stop at Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Dhenkanal, Anugul, Sambalpur, Tlacher Road, and Jharsuguda. Six days a week, except Saturday, it operates from 5:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Puri-Rourkela and from 2:10 p.m. to 9.40 p.m. in Rohela-Puri. 

Thiruvananthapuram- Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express

A journey of 573 km, or roughly eight hours, is completed by the first Vande Bharat of India, colored saffron, and the second Vande Bharat for Kerala. It links Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Tirur, Shornaur, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod with the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.  Six days a week, excluding Tuesday, it is open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. (Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram) and from 4:05 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. (Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod). 

Jaipur-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express 

The Vande Bharat Express train, number thirty-first, links Ahmedabad, located in central Gujarat, with Jamnagar, in the west. The route will serve the state’s major cities, including Rajkot, Wankaner, Surendranagar, Sanand Viramgam, and Sabarmati. Except for Tuesday, the train will run every day. 

Train service for the Vande Bharat Express began in July 2023. 

Lucknow-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express 

Through Ayodhya Junction, the Gorakhpur-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express will travel more than 300 km in less than four hours. Now, it will only take the passengers two hours to travel from Lucknow to Ayodhya. There is one executive chaircar and seven AC chaircars on the train. At 6:05 a.m., the Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Gorakhpur and arrive at 10:20 a.m. Beginning at 7:15 p.m. in Lucknow, the return trip will arrive in Gorakhpur at approximately 11:25 p.m. The train links popular tourist destinations like Sant Kabir Nagar, Siddharthnagar, and Kushinagar. 

Vande Bharat Express Jodhpur-Sabarmati 

The Jodhpur-Sabarmati Vande Bharat Express connects Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The train connects Pali, Abu Road, Palanpur, and Mehsana. The train leaves Ahmedabad at 4:45 p.m. and arrives in Jodhpur at 10:55 p.m., or roughly six hours later. The return trip will depart Jodhpur at approximately 5:55 a.m. and arrive in Ahmedabad at approximately 12:05 p.m. Except for Tuesdays, the train will run six days a week, cutting travel time by approximately two hours.