Train 18: Vande Bharat Express to soon run on three new routes; check out details

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation's (IRCTC) new launched superfast special train Vande Bharat Express (Train 18) will soon run on three new routes, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has announced.

The Train 18 commenced its commercial operations recently and is slated to run on three routes identified by the Railway Ministry namely, Bengaluru-Mangaluru route, Mangaluru-Hyderabad route and Mangaluru-Chennai route.

"Vande Bharat will soon be introduced on Bengaluru-Mangaluru, Chennai-Mangaluru and Hyderabad-Mangaluru routes," the minister on Friday told media reporters in Bengaluru.

"It is one of the kind train, and is eveloped through make in India programme, with indigenous technology," Goyal added.

The Railway Minister in his tweet last Saturday also confirmed the same. He wrote: "Vande Bharat from Bengaluru to Mangaluru soon".

Vande Bharat from Bengaluru to Mangaluru soon https://t.co/O8P9RiJwOS

- Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) February 23, 2019

Flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15, Vande Bharat Express train is India's first semi-high speed train equipped with GPS passenger information system, CCTV and multiple world-class passenger amenities.

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The high speed train has been manufactured in a record time of 18 months by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai under the government's 'Make in India' programme.

Vande Bharat Express currently plies between New Delhi and Varanasi and can go up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph thereby reducing the travel time for passengers. The trains are designed to replace all Shatabdi Express trains of Indian Railways.

Also Read: PM Modi flags off first diesel to electric converted locomotive in Varanasi