The new Vande Bharat Express train, will operate between Howrah and New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. The train has arrived in the state on Sunday for a trial run before its scheduled debut on December 30, according to media reports. On December 30, the train is most likely to be made official by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For both West Bengal and Eastern India, this will be the inaugural Vande Bharat Express.
In 2019, India debuted its first semi-high-speed train. This train will also be the seventh since its start in 2019. Nirmala Sitharaman, the finance minister of India, promised in the budget for the current fiscal year that 400 Vande Bharat trains with improved energy efficiency would be produced over the next three years.
The Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF) developed the train. Better acceleration and deceleration are made possible by Coach’s clever braking system. Automatic doors, a GPS-based audiovisual passenger information system, wi-fi, and comfortable seats are all standard in each coach of the Vande Bharat Express. Executive coaches can use rotating chairs.
The Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat coach would be maintained there and placed on trial in addition to being retained there for maintenance. A report by Hindustan Times, state that 10 specially trained railway conductors have also arrived in Howrah. The Howrah-NJP Vande Bharat train now has a designated yard.
Currently, this train runs on six routes, including those connecting Delhi with Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi with Amb/Una in Himachal Pradesh, Delhi with Katra in Jammu and Kashmir, Chennai with Mysuru, Mumbai with Gandhinagar, and Bilaspur with Nagpur.
Indian Railways runs the semi-high-speed, electric multiple unit Vande-Bharat Express. It was formerly known as Train 18. The first train, which cost Rs. 97 crore to produce, was built in 18 months. On January 27, 2019, the service was renamed “Vande Bharat Express.” The train debuted on February 15, 2019.
Raju Bista, Darjeeling MP, states on his social media account, “I am happy to share that accepting my proposal, very soon the Ministry of Railways is going to initiate a ‘Vande Bharat’ train connecting NJP to Howrah, which is expected to run for 6-days a week. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi ji this will be another gift from the Central Govt to the people of Darjeeling, Siliguri, Kalimpong, Terai, Dooars and entire North Bengal.
‘Vande Bharat’ train will not only ensure faster journey between Kolkata and Siliguri, it will also make traveling more pleasant, and adds to the growing number of transport connectivity from our region. I am most grateful to Hon’ble Railway Minister Sh. Ashwini Vaishnav ji, Railway Board, and NFR Team for the support and timely action.”
