NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Indian Railways is determined to raise its production of Vande Bharat trainsets to three per week by the end of the coming financial year.
The launch of this niche product in 2019 has been well-received, with eight trains already operational and two more to be added to the service on February 10. This move to increase production will enable the Railways to meet the demands for VB services in each zone across the country, connecting many small and big cities.
He declared that owing to the record GBS of Rs 2.40 lakh crores given in the Budget, India’s national carrier has been allowed to produce 500 more Vande Bharat trains in the next three years.
Additionally, with the addition of the three factories in Sonipat (Haryana), Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), and Latur (Maharashtra) to the ICF Chennai facility, the production of the trains must be increased. By the end of the next financial year, the aim is to manufacture two or three Vande Bharat trains per week, thus fulfilling the Prime Minister’s vision of covering every major city and small town with these trains.
The Railway Minister Vaishnaw noted that the eight VB trains had travelled a combined distance equaling around 52 times the earth’s circumference with no significant technical difficulties, paving the way for a rapid increase in the production of rolling stock.
He added that the ministry is also constructing Vande Bharat Metro trains, which would provide a top-notch shuttle service to citizens who reside in the 50-60km vicinity of major cities. “We are developing a metro-style version of the Vande Bharat trains, offering a world-class experience,” he said. Furthermore, the Minister declared that the production and design would be finished in 2021, and the production of Vande Bharat Metro will commence in 2024-25.
