Train 18: Indian Railway’s Modern Marvel Officially Open For The Public; Flagged Off From New Delhi By PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the nation’s much awaited Vande Bharat Express, earlier known as Train 18 from New Delhi railway station, reports The Hindustan Times.

The Railways had recently renamed the train as Vande Bharat Express to acknowledge its ‘Make in India’ status. The 16-coach train has been built in 18 months at the cost of Rs 97 crore by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli, in 18 months. Its set to run between New Delhi and Varanasi clocking a maximum speed of 160 km/hr.

Moreover, in order, the railways said that it had reduced the fare of AC chair car to Rs 1,760 and the fare for executive class to Rs 3,310 from Rs 3,520 for a Delhi-Varanasi commute.

The chair car ticket would cost Rs 1,700, and the executive class ticket will be priced at Rs 3,260, on the return journey.

The railways have also informed that there will be no concessions for senior citizens on tickets in the Vande Bharat Express, and only full-fare adult tickets would be issued. The ticket prices are inclusive of the catering service charges, the order said further.

Between Delhi and Prayagraj (642 km), the fare for chair car class will be Rs 1,395 and Rs 2,750 for the executive level.

Also, between Delhi and Kanpur would be Rs 1,090 in the chair car and Rs 2,105 in executive class for a distance of 447 km, the order said.

The cost of the chair car ticket from Kanpur to Prayagraj (195 km) will be Rs 595, and for the executive class, it will be Rs 1,170 the order said. The prices between Kanpur and Varanasi for a chair car will be Rs 1,020, and an executive class will cost Rs 1,815 instead of Rs 1925.