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News18
5 days ago
- Business
- News18
Vande Bharat: Check Full List Of Trains, Timings, Routes & Ticket Prices Across India
Vande Bharat Express Trains List: At present, 144 Vande Bharat services are operational on the Indian Railways network, which means 72 trains run across the country Vande Bharat Express Trains List: It was 2019 when the first Vande Bharat Express rolled out of the station—marking the arrival of not just a faster train but the beginning of a new chapter in India's transportation story. Designed, engineered, and manufactured entirely in India, the Vande Bharat series is not just a technological achievement but also reflects the country's ability to create modern, world-class infrastructure using indigenous talent and resources. Whether it's the business traveller shuttling between Delhi and Varanasi or the pilgrim heading to Katra to seek blessings at Vaishno Devi, the Vande Bharat trains—designed by RDSO and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways—have redefined what comfort, speed, and punctuality mean for Indian rail passengers. The Vande Bharat network now criss-crosses the country, connecting metros, pilgrimage sites, state capitals, and economic hubs. Popular routes include New Delhi to Varanasi, Mumbai to Gandhinagar, Chennai to Mysuru, and Patna to Howrah—each carefully chosen to reflect high-demand corridors. Timings are optimised for same-day returns on many routes, making them ideal for work, family, or even weekend travel. The expansion hasn't slowed down. With new routes being added every few months—connecting smaller cities and regional clusters—Vande Bharat is quickly becoming the face of a faster, better-connected India. The journey of Vande Bharat Express began with the inaugural service between New Delhi and Varanasi, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15, 2019, at the New Delhi railway station. At present, 144 Vande Bharat services are operational on the Indian Railways network, which means 72 trains run across the country. The main cities connected through the trains include New Delhi, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Coimbatore. WHAT ARE THE TICKET PRICES? The typical AC Chair Car fares range between Rs 1,100 and Rs 1,700 depending on the route, while Executive Class fares usually fall in the Rs 2,300–Rs 3,300 range. Meals are included by default, but you can choose to opt out. Here are some sample fares to give you an idea of ticket prices: New Delhi ↔ Varanasi (Train 22415/22416) • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,805 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 3,355 New Delhi ↔ Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,545 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 2,805 Gandhinagar Capital ↔ Mumbai Central • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,420 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 2,630 Amb Andaura ↔ New Delhi • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,240 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 2,240 Chennai (MGR Central) ↔ Mysuru • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,365 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 2,485 Nagpur ↔ Bilaspur • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,155 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 2,065 Secunderabad ↔ Visakhapatnam • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,665 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 3,120 Howrah ↔ Puri • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,565 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 2,825 Secunderabad ↔ Tirupati • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,680 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 3,080 Delhi Cantonment ↔ Ajmer • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,250 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 2,270 Kasaragod ↔ Thiruvananthapuram • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,520 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 2,815 Anand Vihar Terminal ↔ Dehradun • AC Chair Car: Rs 1,065 • Executive Chair Car: Rs 1,890 SPEED & COMPARTMENTS The Vande Bharat Express reaches a maximum speed of 160 km/h on the Rani Kamalapati (Habibganj) to Hazrat Nizamuddin route. Among its various routes, the New Delhi to Varanasi stretch records the highest average speed of 95 km/h, while the Coimbatore to Bengaluru Cantonment line operates at a slower average of 58 km/h. The train's longest route spans 759 km between New Delhi and Varanasi, whereas the shortest runs 296 km from Gorakhpur to Lucknow, offering travelers a range of journey options. The Vande Bharat Express typically has two classes of coaches: AC Executive Class (EC) and AC Chair Car (CC). A standard 16-coach Vande Bharat train includes 14 AC Chair Car coaches and two Executive Class coaches, with a total seating capacity of 1,128 passengers. The AC Executive Class coaches offer a premium experience, with features like 2×2 seating configuration, reclining and rotating seats, and a seating capacity of 52 passengers per coach. The AC Chair Car coaches have a 2×3 seating configuration with retractable seats. The first and last coaches in this category have a seating capacity of 44 passengers each, while the remaining coaches can accommodate 78 passengers each. FEATURES & AMENITIES • The train has an intelligent braking system which enables better acceleration and deceleration. • All coaches are equipped with automatic doors; GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, on-board hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purposes, and very comfortable seating. The executive class also has rotating chairs. • All toilets are bio-vacuum type. The lighting is dual mode, viz. diffused for general illumination and personal for every seat. • Every coach has a pantry with facilities to serve hot meals, hot and cold beverages. The insulation is meant to keep heat and noise to very low levels for additional passenger comfort. top videos View all • Adding up the green footprints, the train has a regenerative braking system in the coaches which can save up to 30 per cent of electrical energy. • The Vande Bharat Express train has fully sealed gangways and censored interconnecting doors for a dust-free environment. About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Vande Bharat Trains view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 28, 2025, 08:00 IST News india Vande Bharat: Check Full List Of Trains, Timings, Routes & Ticket Prices Across India Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Guntur railway division to get Kavach
GUNTUR: In a major step to improve railway safety, Indian Railways is set to implement the advanced 'Kavach' automatic train protection system across the Guntur Railway Division. Indigenously developed and approved by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), Kavach is designed to prevent collisions by automatically applying brakes in cases of signal overshoots or when two trains are on a collision course. The system serves as a digital safety shield, particularly crucial in case of low visibility or driver error. 'If a train fails to stop at a red signal or is at risk of a head-on collision, the system overrides manual controls and halts the train,' Guntur Divisional Railway Manager Sudeshna Sen told TNIE.
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Business Standard
21-07-2025
- General
- Business Standard
Southern Railway used faulty coaches in 2023 Nilgiri train: CAG flags risk
The Southern Railways compromised passengers' safety by introducing deficient coaches to serve as special train in the Nilgiri Mountain section in July 2023 without any approval from the ministry, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said in its report tabled in the parliament on Monday. "Ministry of Railways may develop a robust mechanism for development of prototype coaches in consultation with RDSO and only after successful trial run, regular production of coaches should be started to avoid creation of ineffective and deficient coaches," the CAG said in its recommendations and observed that it didn't get any reply from the ministry on the said issue. The full report contained 25 audit findings from various railway zones across the country and pointed out cases of undercharges or overpayments of Rs 543.17 crore. One of the audit findings with regard to the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) under Southern Railways (SR) has not only pointed out financial deficiency worth Rs 27.91 crore but also highlighted how "Railway's improper decision which is in the nature of compromising the safety of the passengers by introducing the deficient coaches to serve as Special train without sanction of the Ministry of Railways, is also a serious lapse on the part of the Railways." The audit said that to replace the 100-year-old 28 coaches, operational between 45.88-km-long Mettupalayam and Udagamandalam stations, SR approached the Railway Ministry in May 2015 to advise Integral Coach Factory (ICF) to design and develop a prototype coach to suit NMR. The ministry advised ICF in July 2015 to manufacture a prototype coach for NMR in consultation with Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), based on inputs given by SR. ICF initially manufactured 15 coaches and delivered them to SR after which a trial run was conducted from Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam on April 2, 2019, with the first four coaches. The report noticed that the trial was not conducted on the section having a gradient. "SR noticed (March 2020) that there was an increase in weight of the new coaches by around 5 tonnes each and advised ICF to reduce the weight in the remaining 13 coaches yet to be manufactured. However, no action was taken by ICF in this regard and 13 more NMR coaches were manufactured and delivered to SR in three lots," the report said. It added that in all, 28 NMR coaches were manufactured by ICF and delivered to SR at a total cost of Rs 27.91 crore, but the freezing of the design, layouts and manufacturing of these coaches were done without any consultation with RDSO and also without ascertaining the manufacturing and successful trial of the prototype coach. The report found that the SR modified six coaches, but even after modification, wheel slip in the locomotive was experienced during the trial run in the gradient section despite the weather being supportive with clear skies and dry weather. "Despite deficiencies noticed in the trial run, SR introduced weekly special train services from 15/7/2023 between MTP (Mettupalayam) and UAM (Udagamandalam) with the newly manufactured NMR coaches which were put to use in the special trains. Presently (May 2024), 15 out of the total 28 new NMR coaches have been put to use for operation as weekly special trains without approval of the Railway Board," the CAG report said. It added, "Thus, an imprudent decision was taken to manufacture 28 new NMR coaches without any consultation with RDSO and also without ascertaining the manufacturing and successful trial of the prototype coach despite clear instruction of MoR (July 2015)." The audit has stated that freezing the design and layout by SR and manufacturing the coaches by ICF without addressing the core issues of weight of the coaches and hauling capacity of the locomotive was also a premature decision, which was attributed to the manufacturing of these deficient coaches. Hence, the coaches manufactured at a cost of 27.91 crore could not be put to effective use even after the lapse of more than three years of manufacturing, the audit report stated. It has also expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the Southern Railways, which said that deficiencies noticed during the trial run were advised to ICF for rectification. "As regards operation of new NMR coaches, it was stated that 18 coaches are being used in weekend/joyride special trains and further service will be improved once sanction is received from the Railway Board," the report said regarding SR responses. "The reply of the SR Administration was not acceptable. Nothing has been stated in the reply regarding manufacturing of 28 new NMR coaches without any consultation with RDSO and also without ascertaining the manufacturing and successful trial of the prototype coach despite clear instruction of MoR," the audit said. It added, "Further it is evident from the reply of the SR administration that the deficient coaches were put to use for operation without obtaining sanction from the Railway Board.
Hans India
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Namma Metro Yellow Line to Open Soon After Safety Check
The Yellow Line of Namma Metro, from R V Road to Bommasandra, may open soon. The final safety check will happen on July 15 and 16, said BMRCL officials. Tests for the train's brakes and power system are already done. The tracks and stations were finished over a year ago, but the opening was delayed because the trains arrived late. This line is made for driverless trains. One test train was checked in April by metro safety officers. Before that, another group called RDSO tested the trains, tracks, and brakes. The second test train came in January 2025, and the third came in May. All trains were tested many times. After all systems were checked by safety experts, the line got the approval papers. A BMRCL officer said the metro will start after final approval is given. The exact start date will be told by the state and central governments. One more train will come in July to help with running the metro. This Yellow Line is 18.8 km long and has 16 stations. It will help people travel better in south Bengaluru. With inputs from Bangalore Mirror
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Business Standard
27-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Railways to resume direct recruitment for train control posts after 8 years
The railway ministry will fill 60 per cent posts of train controllers through the direct recruitment process conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB). According to the reforms announced by the ministry on June 25, 60 per cent vacancies in the control department will be filled with graduate-level candidates recruited directly by the RRB. "How this examination will be conducted and what it will be called are some of the issues yet to be decided by the competent authority," Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, said. Officials associated with the control department said till 2017, direct recruitment used to happen in the department through the Railway Traffic Apprentice Exams conducted by the RRB. "However, the examination was discontinued in 2017 after which direct recruitment in the control department was stopped and all posts used to be filled through the feeder cadre, such as guards, station masters and train clerks," a railway official said. He added that since the monetary benefits in the control department were not at par with or beyond the feeder cadre, meritorious employees refused to come to the department and it became a "dumping ground" for medically de-categorised staff. "This is the major reason for the lack of talented workforce in the control department, which is believed to be the brain or nerve centre of the Indian Railways. However, with the new reforms, good candidates will now be posted here directly and it will improve the train operations," a train controller said. According to the ministry's circular, the remaining 40 per cent vacancies will be filled through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations (LDCE) or the merit-based promotional quota from among the eligible candidates. "Grade Pay Level 2 candidates, that means starting from track maintainers, to Grade Pay Level 5 -- all can opt to become train controllers, whose starting Grade Pay Level is 6," the railway official said. As far as filling the vacancies of Grade Pay Level 7 are concerned, the ministry has announced that 50 per cent candidates will be recruited through promotion for Grade Pay Level 6 on the seniority-cum-suitability basis and the remaining 50 per cent through LDCE or departmental selection from the eligible station masters or section controllers in Level 6 and train managers (guards) in Levels 5 or 6. "All Grave Pay Level 8 vacancies in the control department will be filled through promotion from Level 7 on the seniority-cum-suitablity basis," the official said. The circular said departmental selection and direct recruitment shall include an "aptitude and psychometric test as per RDSO specifications". It added that all candidates on their first appointment or selection in the Traffic Control cadre would be imparted training for a year for several skillsets.
