Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off six new Vande Bharat trains to bolster the rapidly growing fleet from 54 train sets to 60 with 120 trips daily covering over 280 districts across 24 states and union territories.

The six new routes that these trains will cover are Tatanagar-Patna, Brahmapur-Tatanagar, Rourkela-Howrah, Deoghar-Varanasi, Bhagalpur-Howrah and Gaya-Howrah. The ministry said the train is capable of reaching a speed up to 160 kmph, offering an unparalleled travel experience for millions of passengers.

“The Vande Bharat Portfolio is ever-expanding with new train services being added for enhanced connectivity,” the statement of Railways read.

“Indigenously designed under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, it offers cutting-edge features delivering luxury and efficiency to millions of passengers,” it added.


“With faster commute times, advanced safety features, and world-class amenities, Indian Railways is setting new benchmarks in travel,” the ministry said highlighting the benefits.

‘Make in India’

According to the Railway Ministry, as a flagship project of the ‘Make in India’ campaign, these semi-high speed trains symbolise India’s ambition for a modern, efficient, and world-class rail system.With the Vande Bharat Express, Indian Railways is set to redefine the passenger experience, offering unmatched speed, safety, and comfort, it said.

The first Vande Bharat train was inaugurated on February 15, 2019.

(more to come)