NEW DELHI, Nov 1: Indian Railways is reportedly going to launch several new Vande Bharat Express trains, further expanding its network of semi-high-speed services across the country.
Among the new schedules expected to start shortly are Bengaluru – Kochi Vande Bharat, Firozpur Cantt – Delhi, Varanasi – Khajuraho, Lucknow – Saharanpur and Bengaluru – Ernakulam.
The Ministry of Railways has already issued the schedules for the Bengaluru – Kochi Vande Bharat expected to start shortly. While the Firozpur Cantt–Delhi Vande Bharat will connect several cities in Punjab to Delhi, the Varanasi–Khajuraho train will connect the neighbouring states- Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat will connect the state capital to the northwest state. The newly approved trains will operate across Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, marking another phase in the government’s push for faster, more comfortable rail travel.
According to a Railway Board notification issued on Friday, train number 26651 KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam Junction Vande Bharat Express will leave Bengaluru at 5.10 am and reach Ernakulam Junction at 1.50 pm. The return service, 26652 Ernakulam Junction–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, will depart Ernakulam at 2.20 pm and arrive in Bengaluru at 11 pm.
The train will halt at Krishnarajapuram, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, and Thrissur. The ministry has directed the Southern Railway and South Western Railway zones to introduce the Bengaluru–Ernakulam service “at the earliest possible date.”
(Manas Dasgupta)