First Vande Bharat sleeper train likely to run from Mumbai-Delhi
By Lokmat English Desk | Updated: July 22, 2023 17:54 IST2023-07-22T17:54:51+5:302023-07-22T17:54:51+5:30
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Vande Bharat Express currently holds the distinction of being the most popular train of the Indian Railways. This train is getting the preference of passengers. Vande Bharat Express operates on 25 routes across the country.
The country's first Vande Bharat sleeper train may run soon. The prototype of this train is being manufactured at ICF. The work of Mission Raftar on the Mumbai to Delhi route is almost at its final stage. It is expected that this work will be completed in this financial year.
According to the information received, efforts are underway to reduce the travel time from Mumbai to Delhi from 16 hours to 12 hours. The project was approved in 2017-18. The objective of this Mission Raftaar project is to enable the entire route from Mumbai to Delhi at a speed of 160 kmph.
Between Mumbai and Delhi, the strengthening of track, strengthening of bridges, modernization of OEH, installation of cover system on the entire route, fencing on both sides of the track etc. are being done. Work on the 694 km stretch between Mumbai Central and Nagda is in progress.
3 thousand 227 rupees are being spent for this entire work. The defense wall was to be built up to 195 km, of which 30 km has been completed. Of the 570 km from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, 474 km of metal barrier fencing has been completed.
Besides, West Central Railway is working on 545 km from Nagda to Mathura. 2 thousand 664 crores are being spent for this. North Central Railway is working 82 km from Mathura to Palwal. 57 km work between Palwal and Delhi is being done by Northern Railway.
ICF has been awarded the contract to manufacture 86 Vande Bharat trains, out of which 9 trains will be of sleeper version. A prototype of the sleeper version is coming soon. Apart from this, Indian Railways wants to start a total of 400 Vande Bharat trains across the country in the next four years.
These include Vande Bharat Seating Version, Vande Bharat Sleeper Version and Vande Bharat Metro Version. Mumbai Rail Development Corporation (MRVC) will soon float tenders for Vande Bharat Metro version instead of EMU local trains.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Delhi routes have always been busy and busy routes. All the premium services of the country are operated by railways on this route. Rajdhani Express was started on 17 May 1972 on the Mumbai-Delhi route.
India's first private Tejas Express train is in service on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. An AC double decker train is also running on this route and the country's first high speed i.e. bullet train route is also being prepared on this route.
Delhi-Mumbai route is always in demand whether it is air service or rail service. Another reason for running the first Vande Bharat sleeper train on this route is the elections in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which can be taken into consideration when taking a railway decision.
According to experts, a major part of this entire route passes through Gujarat and this is also a reason. Now passengers are curious to know exactly when the sleeper version of Vande Bharat train will arrive and on which route.
