Vande Bharat Express: A milestone for Indian railways

 

Vande Bharat Express

The Vande Bharat Express, that is also known as Train 18, is a semi-high-speed train that was introduced by the Indian Railways in 2019.(According to the Creater/Designer of Vande Bharat Express train , "the first train completed in just 18 months and then its name was not decided so we we kept its name as T-18")Vande Bharat train is now loved by Every Indian and it is iconic and a sign of New India. The train is designed and built in India and is considered to be a major achievement in the country's quest for self-reliance in the field of railway technology. The train is developed under Make In India initiative of goverment of India which makes India Atmanirbhar. In this session, we will explore the journey of the Vande Bharat Express from development to running.

Development and Design

The idea for the Vande Bharat Express was first proposed in the 2016 Rail Budget. The aim was to create a train that was faster, safer, and more comfortable than existing trains in India. The train was designed by RDSO and developed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The development process took less than two years and involved the collaboration of several Indian engineering firms and organizations.

Features

The train has aerodynamic features and is made of lightweight materials, which enables it to achieve a maximum speed of 180 km/h, with the LHB coaches . It has Onboard CC chair car, (economy class) , Executive Chair (premium Class), It is also equipped with onboard catering services. The train is equipped with a number of advanced features, including automatic doors, bio-vacuum toilets, and GPS-based passenger information systems with 32 inch television screen, automatic plug doors , sliding doors, emergency communication system. It is also equpped with KAVACH technology.

Testing and Trials

After the train was developed, it underwent extensive testing and trials. The Vande Bharat Express was subjected to various tests, including tests for speed, braking, and safety. The train successfully completed its trials and was certified for commercial use by the Railway Safety Commissioner in February 2019. Train can reach upto 160kmph just in 140 seconds , The new Vande Bharat 2.0 is capable of max speed of 180kmph

Commercial Launch

The Vande Bharat Express was launched commercially on February 15, 2019, on the Delhi-Varanasi route. The train covers the distance of 776 km in just 8 hours, which is a significant improvement over the previous fastest train on this route, the Mahamana Express, which took 14 hours to cover the same distance.

The train has been well-received by passengers, who have praised its speed, comfort, and safety features. The Vande Bharat Express has since been introduced on other routes, including the Delhi- Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Mumbai-Gandhinagar Capital routes.

1st VB=Varanasi to New Delhi [15 february 2019]

2nd VB=New Delhi to Katra[3 october 2019]

3rd VB=Mumbai central to Gandhinagar Capital[30 september 2022]

4th VB=Amb Andaura Himachal Pradesh to new Delhi[13 october 2022]

5th VB=Chennai Central to Mysuru[11 november 2022]

6th VB=Bilaspur to nagpur[11 december 2022]

7th VB=New Jalpaiguri to Hawrah[30 december 2022]

8th VB=Secundrabad to Vishakhapattnam[15 January 2023]

9th VB=Mumbai CSMT to Solapur[10 febreuary 2023]

10th VB=Mumbai CSMT to Shirdi [10 february 2023]

The two new Vande Bharat Trains are to be launch in upcoming days , one is Coimbatore-MGR Chennai Central Vande Bharat Express and Other is Ajmer-Jaipur-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express.

Challenges and Future Plans

The Vande Bharat Express has faced some challenges since its launch, including technical issues and vandalism by passengers. However, the Indian Railways has been working to address these issues and improve the overall experience for passengers.

The Indian Railways is also planning to introduce more Vande Bharat Express trains in the future. The aim is to replace the aging fleet of Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express trains with these modern, semi-high-speed trains. The Indian Railways has also announced plans to export the technology used in the Vande Bharat Express to other countries, which could help boost India's railway exports and contribute to the country's economy.

Conclusion

The Vande Bharat Express is a significant achievement for the Indian Railways and a symbol of the country's growing self-reliance in the field of railway technology. The train's development and successful launch demonstrate the potential of Indian engineering firms and organizations to compete with the best in the world. While there have been some challenges along the way, the Vande Bharat Express is a testament to the Indian Railways' commitment to modernizing and improving the country's railway infrastructure