Vande Bharat Trial Run On Ahmedabad-Mumbai Takes About Five Hours; Indian Railways Appear On Track To Deploy 75 Such Trains By August 2023

Vande Bharat Express' test runs between Mumbai and Ahmedabad were done on Friday (9 September). The train reached a speed of 0-100 kmph in 52 seconds, compared to 54.6 seconds for the previous version.

The nonstop trip between the two cities took a little over five hours in the testing.

Although the Vande Bharat Express recorded a 180 kmph during trail runs, its actual track speed will be closer to 130 kmph. Existing tracks are being improved to accommodate 160 kmph.

According to an Economic Times report, the train covered the 491 km nonstop route between Ahmedabad and Mumbai at a top speed of 130kmph in five hours and 14 minutes.

According to officials, the return trip took the train five hours and four minutes. The distance between the two cities will probably take six hours to travel, with stops.

Following the trial runs, Railways will require approval from the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety to launch the new service. If everything goes as planned, railway service between the two cities could begin by Dussehra or Diwali.

Indian Railways tweeted that the new Vande Bharat trains, with their increased speed and more features, will enhance the travelling experience.

The following is a list of the newest, enhanced, and more advanced features in Vande Bharat 2 trains:

• a weight reduction of 392 tonnes compared to 430 tonnes,

• on-demand WI-FI content,

• 32-inch LCD TVs instead of 24 inches,

• 15% more energy-efficient air conditioners

• dust-free clean air conditioning of the traction motor to improve trip comfort.

As advised by the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh, the Photo-catalytic ultraviolet air filtration system is installed in new Vande Bharat trains to filter and clean the air free from pathogens, bacteria, and viruses that enter through fresh air.

Currently, two Vande Bharat trains are running between New Delhi-Varanasi and New Delhi-Katra stations.

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that as many as 75 Vande Bharat trains would run across India by Independence Day in 2023.

The Railway Board's move of higher capacity electrification will reportedly complement the 75 Vande Bharat Trains, which are scheduled to hit the tracks by August 2023.