Pune, a bustling city in Maharashtra, is gearing up to receive a new addition to its railway network – the Vande Bharat train.
The South-Central Railway’s Secunderabad-Pune Shatabdi Express will soon make way for the new Vande Bharat rakes, which are set to begin operations in April this year.
This move is part of Indian Railways’ plan to replace Shatabdi Express trains with Vande Bharat rakes that have been designed and built in India.
What is a Vande Bharat Train?
The Vande Bharat Express is a train that promises to take passengers on a journey like never before.
With speeds of up to 160 kmph, this semi-high speed train offers a travel experience akin to that of an aircraft.
Its travel classes, which are similar to those on the Shatabdi Train, come with improved facilities, adding to the comfort and convenience of the passengers.
What’s more, the Vande Bharat Express is a testament to the Indian Railways’ commitment to the “Make in India” vision, with its major systems designed and built in India.
Details of the New Vande Bharat Train in Pune
Pune is all set to get a brand new Vande Bharat train, replacing the Secunderabad-Pune Shatabdi Express with new rakes starting this April.
This news comes from a railway official who mentioned that the train will belong to the Secunderabad rail division under the South-Central Railway.
Pune already has two Vande Bharat Express trains from CSMT to Solapur and CSMT to Shirdi, both operated by the Central Railway (CR).
The average occupancy of the CSMT-Solapur route is close to 90%, which highlights the demand for a train service that connects Pune and Mumbai.
What is the Indian Railways’ Plan for Vande Bharat Trains?
The Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced that the Railways aims to launch two to three new Vande Bharat trains every week by the end of the next financial year.
The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, had previously declared that 400 new Vande Bharat trains will be launched within the next three years.