Patna. The fatigue of long journeys in India will now become history, because a new era is about to begin for the passengers of Indian Railways. By the end of December this year, the country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train will start running on the tracks. This train will be a great blend of speed of Tejas, comfort of Rajdhani and modern technology of Vande Bharat. Preparations for the trial run by Indian Railways are in full swing and passengers are eagerly waiting. According to information received from Railway sources, two rakes are being prepared at the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) factory in Bengaluru. The finishing of one of these racks has been completed. The first rake will leave for Northern Railway on 12th December.
First rack ready, trial run soon
According to railway sources, the trial run of Vande Bharat sleeper train will start on the Patna-Delhi route. Railway officials said that after the report is passed on time, regular operation of the train will start. On condition of anonymity, Danapur division officials have confirmed that regular operations will begin by the end of the month. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav also gave an update that this train will prove to be a game-changer for long distance passengers.
Comfortable travel in three classes
This train will have a total of 16 coaches, in which there is a provision of 827 berths. Third AC includes 11 coaches (611 berths), Second AC includes 4 coaches (188 berths) and First AC includes 1 coach (24 berths). If needed, the number of coaches can be increased to 24. The design of the train is such that passengers can sleep comfortably throughout the night. The estimated fare is expected to be around Rs 2,000 for third AC, which is around the Rajdhani fare, but better in terms of facilities.
Modern facilities and high speed
Schedule like Tejas Rajdhani
Vande Bharat Sleeper train will run six days a week. It will leave Patna from Rajendra Nagar Terminal in the evening and reach Delhi the next morning. The return schedule will also be like Tejas Rajdhani Express. In the first phase, focus will be on Delhi-Patna, later routes like Mumbai-Patna, Bangalore-Patna will be added. According to the information, Railways aims to increase the number of Vande Bharat trains from 164 to more.
Passengers expect new facilities
Lakhs of passengers travel on the Patna-Delhi route every day. This train will not only save time but will also increase comfort. Passengers say that the popularity of Vande Bharat has already been proved and now the sleeper version will make long journeys easier. Railways has started preparations for ticket booking on IRCTC app. This launch will become an example of ‘Make in India’, which will take Railways to new heights.
There will be expansion on future and routes
According to the Railway Ministry, the sleeper Vande Bharat has been designed to replace the Rajdhani Express. After December, there are plans to run it on routes like Gorakhpur-Delhi also. This will not only reduce travel time but will also boost tourism and trade. Experts believe that this train will also increase the income of Railways.
