The first Vande Bharat Metro train is likely to be launched on Ahmedabad – Vadodara – Surat route later this month, possibly on 15th of August. It will operate at upto 130 kmph speed.
While metro train doesn’t have toilet facility, the Vande Bahrat Metro train will have toilet facility. Vande Bharat Metro will be an Air Conditioned train with facilities such as automatic door, CCTV camera, panic button, LED display, light aluminium luggage rack, mobile charging sockets, KAVACH anti collision system, diffused lighting, route indicator displays, wider panoramic sealed windows with roller blinds, announcement system, fully sealed gangways for smooth movement between coaches, dust-free space and standing as well as sitting space.
A 12-coach rake created at ICF Chennai under ‘Make In India’ initiative has been handed over to Western Railway for its operations on Ahmedabad- Vadodara – Surat route, one of the busiest route of Indian Railways where two Vande Bharat Express trains are already in operation. The train can be extended to 16-coach size when required. The train can be run in 4, 8, 12, 16 coach size. However by-default size will be 12-coach. Each coach will have 100 passengers capacity to sit and for 200 to stand.
Reservation for journey will not be required in the case of Vande Bharat Metro, as the train is positioned like a Metro train.
A trial of Vande Bharat Metro was completed at Jaipur in 110-130 km/hr speed. The train can be operated for 2.5 to 3 hours distance on one side. It’s not a long distance train. A rake may reach Sabarmati station in Ahmedabad next week. The second rake is being prepared at Kapurthala. The government has ordered for supply of 12 rakes. The interior will be different than conventional metro trains and Vande Bharat Express trains. However the comfort and facilities will be matching to Vande Bharat Express trains.