Vande Bharat Categorical Common Pace Down From 84 Kmph To 76 Kmph In 3 Years: RTI Reply

The common pace of Vande Bharat trains decreased from 84.4 kmph in 2020-21 to 76.2 kmph in 2023-24

New Delhi:

The common pace of Vande Bharat trains has decreased from 84.48 kmph in 2020-21 to 76.25 kmph in 2023-24, the railway ministry stated in a response to an RTI question.

Railway officers stated not solely Vande Bharats however many different trains are additionally sustaining cautionary pace at locations have been “enormous infrastructural work” is underway. “Moreover this, some Vande Bharat trains have been launched in tough terrain areas the place there are pace restrictions as a result of geographical causes or excessive climate circumstances,” a railway official stated.

Citing the instance of the Vande Bharat practice between Mumbai CSMT and Madgaon, an official of the Central Railway Zone stated, “A lot of the Konkan railway space is ‘ghat’ part the place trains move by means of low peak mountain ranges. It’s a tough terrain space the place growing pace might compromise security.” “Issues turn out to be very difficult throughout the monsoon season when we now have to maintain the utmost pace for all trains at 75 kmph,” he added.

The RTI applicant, Madhya Pradesh-based Chandra Shekhar Gaur, stated, “The information, obtained by means of the RTI, exhibits that the common pace of Vande Bharat trains was 84.48 in 2020-21, which decreased to 81.38 kmph in 2022-23. It additional deteriorated in 2023-24 to 76.25.”

Launched on February 15, 2019, the Vande Bharat is a semi-high pace practice which might run at a most pace of 160 kmph. Nonetheless, it can not transcend 130 kmph wherever within the nation, besides on the Delhi-Agra route, as a result of unsuitable monitor circumstances.

“There are specific segments of tracks between Delhi and Agra which have been developed in 2016 for India’s first semi-high pace practice Gatiman Categorical to run at 160 kmph. Solely on these segments, the Vande Bharat additionally runs at 160 kmph pace. Remainder of the locations, its most pace is both 130 or lower than,” one other railway official stated.

He stated the railways has been upgrading tracks to satisfy the pace requirement of the Vande Bharat and “it’s due to these causes there are cautions at numerous locations”. “As soon as these upgrades are over, we could have trains which can go as much as 250 kmph,” the official stated.

A few of the routes on which the Vande Bharat’s pace is worse than its total common pace are Dehradun-Anand Vihar (63.42 kmph), Patna-Ranchi (62.9 kmph) and Coimbatore-Bangalore Cantt (58.11 kmph).

An knowledgeable engaged in monitor building stated the primary Vande Bharat was launched in February 2019 and it has been greater than 5 years since then, however the railways is but to switch tracks on any route in order that the practice can run at its most working pace of 160 kmph.

“The railways’ argument is that since infrastructure work is occurring, it restricts the pace of Vande Bharat trains. However that is additionally true that in 5 years, it has failed to put tracks appropriate for working semi-high pace trains,” the knowledgeable stated requesting anonymity.

Nonetheless, the railway ministry maintains that Vande Bharat trains are very talked-about and until March 31, greater than 2.15 crore folks have travelled by it.

The Vande Bharat lists quite a lot of options similar to Kavach safety, sooner acceleration and semi-high pace operation as much as 160 kmph, totally sealed gangway free of charge passenger motion, computerized plug doorways, reclining ergonomic seats and cozy seating with revolving seats in govt class, higher experience consolation amongst others.

“A complete of 284 districts throughout the nation have been linked to the Vande Bharat Categorical and This quantity will proceed to extend sooner or later. A complete of 102 Vande Bharat trains are offering companies on 100 routes of the railway community,” a railway official stated.
 

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)