Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually flagged off India’s 71st Vande Bharat Express from Siwan, marking a significant boost in connectivity between Patliputra in Bihar and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. According to the Railway Ministry, the new train will reduce travel time between the two cities by at least two hours, offering a faster and more comfortable option for daily commuters.
The inaugural run began at around 1 pm from Patliputra station in Patna, greeted by enthusiastic crowds and celebratory events. Although the date of commercial operations is yet to be announced, officials have shared the tentative schedule. The train is expected to depart from Gorakhpur at 5:40 am and arrive in Patliputra at 12:45 pm. It will make the return journey the same day, leaving Patliputra at 3:30 pm and reaching Gorakhpur by 10:30 pm.
Local BJP MLA Sanjiv Chaurasia called it “a gift from Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi,” highlighting that the service would not only save time but also offer world-class features like LED information panels, bio-vacuum toilets, the indigenous safety system ‘Kavach’, and rapid acceleration capabilities.
The train will run six days a week, excluding Saturdays, and halt at key stations including Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Bapudham Motihari, Sagauli, Bettiah, Narkatiaganj, and Bagaha. This Vande Bharat is the 28th such service operational in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Dilip Kumar, Executive Director (Information & Publicity) of the Railway Board, stated that Vande Bharat trains now operate across 24 states and Union Territories, covering 330 districts. “The first train was flagged off on February 15, 2019, and since then, the Vande Bharat network has rapidly expanded,” he said.
While these trains are designed for speeds up to 160 kmph, existing rail infrastructure restricts them to 130 kmph. Officials also noted that while the Kavach system promises high safety with automatic braking, full functionality is pending installation of supporting infrastructure at stations and along tracks.
With ongoing efforts to expand Kavach implementation, officials expressed optimism that passengers would soon benefit from its advanced safety features.