India’s Speed Marvel: The History of Vande Bharath Express

Sudhanshu Mani, is the master mind behind the Vande Bharath Express. He is a retired mechanical engineer with 38 years of experience. He faced lots of hurdles to get approvals from the ministry and the Railway board. During his recent interview, he revealed that “he had to touch Railway board chairman’s feet to get the approvals.”

After many many struggles, he finally got approval to make this train. As soon as it is approved, with a team of other members like DP Dash, S Srinivas, Subhranshu and Manish Pradhan started working on it.

Initially they named this project as ‘Train 18’. Through their dedication and hard work, they completed the project in just 18 months. Later it was named “Vande Bharath”.

Vande Bharath is the first domestic semi-high-speed train in India with a speed of 160 KMPH.

Launch of Vande Bharath

The inaugural journey of Vande Bharath Express commenced on February 15, 2019 covering the route from New Delhi to Varanasi through Kanpur and Allahabad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the eighth Vande Bharath Express linking Secunderabad in Telangana to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on January 15, 2023.

Engineering

Integral Coach Factory (ICF) manufactured 2 generation locomotives.
The first generation of Vande Bharath Express had a tight air system to reduce air resistance, and a driver compartment at each end for easy change of direction. Vehicles were constructed of stainless steel each 23 meters in length, with optional equipment for balanced power and fast acceleration.

Objective of Vande Bharath

1. Vande Bharat trains aim to improve connectivity between cities and regions and reduce travel time.
2. Enhancing tourism and economic development by connecting people from different sectors by improving communication for economic growth.
3. Supporting the ‘Make in India’ campaign through the domestic design and production of these trains.
4. Promote energy-efficient and environmentally friendly modes of transportation.
5. To set new standards for railway transport in India, and to achieve new developments in the railway industry.

Features:

1. The train has automatic doors that operate without the need for manual operation, providing convenience and accessibility for passengers.
2. Passengers have access to onboard Wi-Fi.
3. The train features a GPS-based passenger information system that provides real-time updates and information about the journey including location and upcoming stops.
4. It has an intelligent braking system which enables better acceleration and deceleration.
5. It has comfortable seating and also has rotating chairs in executive class.
6. Each coach has a pantry with facilities to serve meals and beverages.
7. It can accommodate upto 1128 passengers with 16- air conditioning coaches of which 2 are executive coaches.
8. It also has provision for Divyang-friendly facilities.

Vande Bharath 2.0

Vande Bharat 2.0 was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 September, 2022 from Gandhinagar to Mumbai.

Engineering:

The second generation of Vande Bharath Express locomotives has a faster speed, reaching 100 kmph in 52 seconds and 160 kmph in 140 seconds.These trains weigh 392 tonnes, and are smaller than before one with a giant 32-inch TV screens which is energy efficient and includes upgraded air conditioning.

Improved Features:

1. Every coach is equipped with 32-inch televisions that offer passengers a high-quality viewing experience for entertainment and travel updates.
2. The train provides Wi-Fi onboard allowing passengers to remain connected and browse the internet while travelling, improving their overall journey.
3. The seats have been improved with advanced reclining systems, enabling passengers to customise their seating for increased comfort and relaxation while travelling.
4. The air conditioning system is created to eliminate bacteria, leading to a cleaner and healthier atmosphere.
5. With the KAVACH system, safety is improved by preventing accidents and collisions in trains through real-time monitoring and automated responses.
6. Every coach has four emergency windows which offer extra safety measures for passengers to swiftly exit the train in emergencies.
7. The train has an advanced fire detection and suppression system that is designed to effectively detect and handle fires, guaranteeing the safety of passengers during a fire emergency.

Services:

As of August 5, 2024, there are 51 Vande Bharat trains operating on 45 different routes.

What is KAVACH?

KAVACH is an advanced electronic system which was designed to help the Indian Railways achieve Zero Accidents. It is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system which has been developed by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industry.

It makes the train brake system automatically if the driver fails to control the train according to speed limitations. In addition to that it prevent collision between the two engines. It is a Safety Integrity Level
(SIL-4) certified technology with the probability of error being one
in 10,000 years.

The effective testing of KAVACH was carried out on 4 March 2022 from Gullaguda to Chitgidda Railway stations of South Central Railway.

Online Ticket Booking and pricing

Travellers looking to buy Vande Bharath train tickets have the option of buying them at Indian Railways’ station counters or online through the IRCTC web portal, irctc.co.in, or the IRCTC Rail Connect app.

Additionally, there are various online platforms such as Paytm, Goibibo, Redbus, MakeMyTrip, and RailYatri.

The cost of each Vande Bharath Express train varies depending on the route, ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000.

List of few trains running on the routes:

1. New Delhi – Shri Vaishno Devi Mata, Katra
2. New Delhi – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
3. Gandhinagar Capital – Ahmedabad – Mumbai Central
4. Amb Andaura – New Delhi
5. Mysore – Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Chennai Central
6. Nagpur, Maharashtra – Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
7. Howrah – New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
8. Secunderabad, Telangana – Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

Conclusion

In conclusion, Vande Bharath Express represents a major breakthrough in Indian Railways delivering speed, comfort and modern advanced technology combined with features such as high speed capability, enhanced passenger comfort, safety infrastructure, new quality and so on. As its fleet expands and develops, it promises to play an important role in shaping the future of rail in the country.