Indian Railways to introduce Vande Bharat train in Jammu and Kashmir

By: Pune Pulse

October 21, 2023

Pune: In an effort to enhance connectivity and expand its network, the Indian Railways has announced its plans to introduce three additional state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express trains in the fiscal year 2023-24, specifically catering to Jammu and Kashmir as well as certain Northeastern states.

The exact launch date of these trains remains uncertain; however, it is anticipated that they will be introduced once the railway lines in both regions have been electrified. According to reports, the Indian Railways intends to launch one Vande Bharat train for Tripura and another for Meghalaya. These trains are expected to be introduced in the upcoming financial year.

This development marks a significant milestone for the Indian Railways as it enters a new era of mobility with the introduction of these new Vande Bharat Express trains on its network. Furthermore, the Indian Railways has outlined plans to introduce a total of 75 such trains by March 2024. Additionally, the introduction of two other variants, namely Vande Metro and Vande Bharat Sleeper Car, is also anticipated within the current fiscal year. 

To further enhance connectivity in the Northeast, the Indian Railways has announced its intention to operate two additional semi high speed trains. One of these trains will be dedicated to serving Tripura, while the other will cater to the transportation needs of Meghalaya. 

The Indian Railways has announced plans to introduce new Vande Bharat trains for Jammu and Kashmir once the Jammu-Srinagar line is operational. It is expected that the Jammu-Srinagar railway line will be functional within this financial year. It is worth mentioning that the Chennai-based factory is currently developing Vande Bharat trains specifically for the Jammu and Kashmir region.

These trains will be equipped with heating facilities inside the compartments and water lines to prevent freezing. Recently, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated 9 new Vande Bharat Express trains to enhance connectivity across eleven states, including Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gujarat. The Indian Railways has stated that these new trains will operate at the highest speeds on their respective routes, resulting in significant time savings for passengers.

Madhupriya Dhanwate