The newest and third Vande Bharat Express train has clocked a speed of 100 kilometres per hour (kmph) in 52 seconds during a trial. The train took 2.6 seconds less than the previous train to reach this speed. It is all set to hit the tracks soon.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav revealed that the third train’s top speed will be 180 kmph, which is 20 kmph faster than the previous train’s top speed. The Indian Railways hopes to have 75 Bande Bharat Express trains operational by the next Independence Day. The trial run was conducted between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and the service will be officially launched this month.
The new Vande Bharat train was tested on Friday, September 9. In 5 hours and 10 minutes, the train travelled 492 kilometres. The Shatabdi express travels the same distance and route in 6 hours and 20 minutes. The Vande Bharat Express train left Ahmedabad at 7.06 a.m. and arrived in Surat in 2 hours and 32 minutes, as opposed to the Shatabdi train, which takes 3 hours.
Rail Minister Ashwini said that the new train took 130 seconds to reach the speed of 160 kmph while the older versions took 146 seconds for the same. The new train will also have more amenities for improved passenger experience. The weight of the train has been reduced to 290 tons from 430 tons and it will have a battery backup of three hours.
Ashwini also revealed that the train will have Wi-Fi-enabled content on demand that passengers can watch on a 32-inch LCD TV, as well as 15% more energy efficient air conditioning. All classes will have access to the current Executive Class facility of recliner seats, and the train will be outfitted with a photocatalytic ultraviolet purification system in the Roof Mounted Package Unit (RMPU).
The train will also include vacuum-based bio toilets, automatic sliding doors, GPS-based information systems, and CCTV cameras.