Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Uttarakhand’s first semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express train connecting Dehradun with New Delhi via video conferencing on May 25, 2023.
The Vande Bharat Express is an electric multiple-unit train operated by Indian Railways that connects major Indian cities with a speed of up to 160 km/h (99 mph).
The Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express is the 18th Vande Bharat train and the sixth one connecting Delhi from different routes.
The train has been indigenously manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai and is equipped with advanced safety features, including the Kavach technology.
The train has world-class amenities such as on-board WiFi infotainment system, automatic doors, smoke alarms, CCTV cameras, bio-vacuum toilets, sensor-based water taps, roller blinds and airline-style rotatable seats.
The train will cover a distance of 302 km in 4 hours and 45 minutes, reducing the travel time by 45 minutes compared to the existing Shatabdi Express.
The train will operate on all days of the week, except Wednesdays. The regular operations will start on May 29, 2023.
The train will have two classes of coaches: AC chair car and executive chair car. The ticket prices are Rs 1,065 for AC chair car and Rs 1,890 for executive chair car.
The train will depart from Anand Vihar railway station at 5:50 pm and arrive at Dehradun by 10:35 pm. It will pass through Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Roorkee and Haridwar.
The train will also boost tourism in Uttarakhand as it will provide a comfortable travel experience for visitors to the state’s scenic destinations such as Mussoorie, Rishikesh and Haridwar.