The announcement of 400 new Vande Bharat trains has come as music to the ears of travel lovers across the country. By Karan Kaushik
The union government has decided to take their travelling experience to the next level. In the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the government has decided to produce as many as 400 Vande Bharat trains. 102 such trains are already being manufactured, and these 400 trains will be a bonus.
The new-generation high-speed trains will feature an engine-less propulsion system. The vision behind rolling out these trains is to achieve better efficiency and provide an improved travel experience to passengers. The trains will be manufactured over the next three years. The government has also announced the development of 100 PM Gati Shakti Cargo terminals.
Here’s everything you should know about the Vande Bharat Trains announced in Union Budget 2022
The government has been making sincere efforts towards boosting the railway infrastructure in the country as part of the PM Gati Shakti mission. What makes the Vande Bharat trains special from the usual trains, is the fact that they will be made from lightweight aluminium. The present trains used by the Indian Railways are made of steel, which has always been the first choice for the government. But now, the coaches will be made from steel, according to media reports.
#भारतीय_रेल को समृद्ध करता आत्मनिर्भर भारत का बजट।
केंद्रीय बजट – 2022-23 में आगामी 3 वर्षों के दौरान 400 नई पीढ़ी की वंदे भारत ट्रेनों को निर्मित एवं विकसित करने की घोषणा की गई है।#AatmaNirbharBharatKaBudget #Budget2022 pic.twitter.com/Go1Nd5xi32— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) February 1, 2022
As per a report published in the Indian Express, the Railway Board is already in talks with the government regarding the change of material to make the coaches. The Railway Ministry will start testing the trains from April. The production will begin from August 2023.
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The aluminium coaches will make the trains lighter by 50 tons, which in turn, will lead to lesser consumption of energy. Each train will be made at a cost of INR 25 Crore, which is much higher than the manufacturing cost of the current trains used by the railways.
Vande Bharat trains will have 16 coaches. They will be able to halt without the assistance of an engine. The trains are based on a technology called distributed traction power. The technology has already been implemented by many countries across the world. India is also set to get rid of the locomotive-hauled trains.