G20 podium
Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: The popularity and high occupancy of the Vande Bharat train service connecting Maharashtra to Gujarat may soon lead to the introduction of another semi-high-speed train on the same route, according to reports.
The trial run for the proposed second train service reportedly took place on November 10. The final decision regarding its regular operation is expected to be made based on the outcome of the trials.
According to a report in The Times of India, the new train will depart from Ahmedabad at 6.10 am and arrive at Mumbai Central at 11.35 am. On its return journey, it will leave Mumbai Central at 3.55 pm and reach Ahmedabad at 9.25 pm, it added.
On September 30, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off the upgraded version of Vande Bharat Express between Gandhinagar and Mumbai and travelled on the train up to Kalupur Railway Station in Ahmedabad.
During the journey, he spoke to co-passengers, who included family members of Railways staff, women entrepreneurs, youngsters, and researchers. He also interacted with workers, engineers and other staff who were behind the success of the service.
The route proved to be a gamechanger, boosting connectivity between the two business hubs of India. It enabled business owners from Mumbai to Gujarat and vice versa to travel faster without incurring extra expenses. Also, the facilities available on board are comparable to air travel.
It is equipped with advanced state-of-the-art safety features including an indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System – Kavach.
One-way travel time aboard the Vande Bharat Express 2.0 from Mumbai to Gandhinagar is about five and a half hours. The existing Vande Bharat Express train records an occupancy rate of over 130 pc, with the chair car maintaining an average occupancy of 130.43 pc and executive class 131.92 pc, according to reports.
