India’s New Vande Metro 'Namo Bharat Rapid Rail' Takes to the Tracks

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s inaugural 'Vande Metro' service, now renamed the 'Namo Bharat Rapid Rail,' which will travel between Bhuj and Ahmedabad. This new service is designed to connect urban areas with surrounding cities.

The Railway Minister highlighted that while traditional metros focus on shorter routes, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail will extend connections from central cities to their outskirts.

Namo Bharat Rapid Rail: Key Highlights

• The Ahmedabad-Bhuj route will cover 360 kilometers in 5 hours and 45 minutes, with a top speed of 110 km/h, stopping at nine stations.
  
• Departing from Bhuj at 5:05 am, it will arrive at Ahmedabad Junction by 10:50 am.
• The train features 12 air-conditioned coaches equipped with modern amenities such as automatic sliding doors, modular interiors, continuous LED lighting, vacuum toilets, route indicators, panoramic windows, CCTV, phone charging ports, and advanced fire safety systems including automatic detection and aerosol suppression.
• Official service begins on September 17, coinciding with PM Modi's birthday. The first journey will start from Ahmedabad with a fare of Rs 455.
• The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail will include advanced safety technologies like KAVACH for collision prevention, fire detection, and aerosol-based fire suppression, alongside emergency lighting.
• The Vande Metro represents a significant upgrade from conventional suburban trains and metro coaches, featuring a modular design with innovative vacuum toilets.
• It aims to enhance travel between cities within a 150 km range, offering efficient and comfortable trips of about 3 to 4 hours.
• Additionally, PM Modi will launch Vande Bharat trains on routes such as Kolhapur-Pune, Pune-Hubballi, Nagpur-Secunderabad, Agra Cantt-Banaras, and Durg-Visakhapatnam. The first 20-coach Vande Bharat train will operate between Varanasi and Delhi, according to a PMO release.