The South-Eastern Railways (SER) officials hinted on Tuesday (2 May) that Jharkhand’s first Vande Bharat Express is expected to become operational by the end of May, operating between Ranchi and Patna.
According to a senior railway official, preparations for the operational launch had been completed by their side and waiting for a formal communication from the Railway Board.
The Vande Bharat will cover the distance between Ranchi and Patna in around six hours, which is a major improvement for the corridor, given that trains operating between the stations take over nine hours to complete the same journey.
Ranchi divisional railway manager, Pradeep Gupta, stated that although they were yet to receive formal communication from higher-ups regarding the route, commencement of operations, and other details, it was certain that a Vande Bharat train would operate out of the Ranchi railway division.
The Ranchi-Howrah route was originally selected for running the train in the 2020-21 financial year by replacing the Shatabdi Express. However, it was revealed that the route was cancelled due to topographical complications between Ranchi and Muri railway stations, as per the Times of India report.
The Vande Bharat train will be maintained by the Ranchi railway division at its depot in Hatia.
According to a senior official at the Ranchi railway division, a separate maintenance line has been commissioned to ease maintenance. Training for depot staff has also been completed.
While no official word has been provided regarding the route, the railways is considering running the train through the Tantisilwai-Barkakana-Hazaribagh-Koderma route.
The eight-coach train capable of reaching a speed of 180 km per hour already operates on 14 routes across the country and is an excellent example of Indian Railways’ push towards modernisation with high-speed rail travel offering at par luxury and comfort to air travel.
The Vande Bharat Express has reduced travel times, made train travel more comfortable for passengers since its operation began, and has become increasingly popular among commuters who often choose the train over flights.