As of December 2022, Indian Railways will run the semi-high-speed electric multiple-unit train Vande Bharat Express, formerly known as Train 18, on 6 routes. Most experts were pleased to see the Finance Minister's announcement of the intention to produce 400 new Vande Bharat express trains domestically for Rs 130 crores in the recently-presented budget for 22–23. However, Vande Bharat Express Trains is not without its detractors. The Vande Bharat Express Production is being promoted by the government as a "Make in India" success story. Vande Bharat Express Services' detractors contend that rather than focusing on 'luxuries' that only the wealthy can afford, such as trains, the government should prioritize other social aims like food and education.
Why Vande Bharat is important - Background
India had long-term plans to establish a high-speed rail system. The Indian Railways' top priorities were safety and cost. After the launch of the Gatimaan Express in 2016, Indian Railways went on to reach speeds of 99 mph by the middle of the 2010s. Building a more contemporary, higher-speed rail was the logical next step for Indian Railways. The Indian Railways decided to move forward with the Vande Bharat Express Manufacturing first set and, if inaugurated successfully, to continue with the production of the Vande Bharat Express Train versions on various routes entirely in India after determining that none of the bids submitted were viable. Early in 2017, it was intended for the indigenous (EMU) semi-high-speed train to travel at a speed of 160 km/h and include modern amenities (99 mph). Due to the semi-high-speed services' intended completion in 2018, two new train sets were announced to be produced in ICF and given the name "Train-2018."
On February 15, 2019, Train 18, now known as the Vande Bharat Express, was inaugurated after four years of preparation, production, and testing. New Delhi to Varanasi was the inaugural Vande Bharat Express Route, also known as Train 18 at the time. Soon after, the railway minister changed the name of Train 18 to "Vande Bharat Express." The Vande Bharat Express's debut run was set off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15 and its commercial operation began on February 17. The inaugural Vande Bharat Express route connects the holy city of Varanasi to the Capital city through Kanpur and Prayagraj, cutting the travel time along the route by 15%.
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