India’s Vande Bharat Express, after a two-month gap in launches, is gearing up to introduce nine new trains, potentially connecting states like Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Rajasthan just ahead of their upcoming elections.
Official data from the Railway Ministry reveals that at least nine Vande Bharat trains have been manufactured and dispatched from the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Notably, no new Vande Bharat Express had been launched in the past two months, with the last one inaugurated on July 7, running between Gorakhpur and Lucknow.
Of these nine new trains, three have been allocated to the Southern Railways, matching the current number of Vande Bharat trains in operation within that zone. The Western Railway, headquartered in Mumbai, is set to receive another Vande Bharat from this fresh consignment. Additionally, the North Western, South Central, East Coast Railway, and East Central zones will each welcome a new Vande Bharat. Furthermore, one train remains unassigned at the ministry level, sparking speculations that poll-bound states MP and Rajasthan may be among the recipients.
Presently, India boasts 25 operational Vande Bharat trains. The Northern Zone leads with four, while Southern and Central zones follow closely with three each. The Western, West Central, and North Western Railways each have two Vande Bharats in service. The remaining nine zones, namely South East Central, Eastern, East Coast, South Central, South Eastern, Northeast Frontier, East Central, South Western, and North Eastern Railways, possess one Vande Bharat each.
Although specific routes and launch dates remain undisclosed, officials anticipate a grand event with the simultaneous launch of multiple trains. Potential routes include Jaipur-Indore and Jaipur-Udaipur, and sources suggest that two of these trains may traverse through Jaipur, with one passing via Neemuch.
Both Rajasthan and MP, election-bound states, are expected to receive new train connections. Rajasthan had already received two Vande Bharat trains in the past – the Ajmer-Delhi and Jodhpur-Sabarmati routes. Meanwhile, MP, set to hold elections later this year, will also benefit from a new Vande Bharat.
Additionally, a train assigned to the East Coast Railway may travel to Puri and Rourkela in Odisha, aligning with upcoming elections in the state in early 2024. Another train under East Central Railway might complete the Patna-Howrah route, with trial runs conducted, including stoppages in Jamtara and Asansol.
While the routes for four Vande Bharat trains, including the three for Southern Railway, remain unconfirmed, India’s high-speed train network continues to expand, enhancing connectivity and accessibility across the nation.
