Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Tuesday that India will soon welcome the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, with a confirmed launch date by October 15, 2025. The train’s roll-out follows readiness checks of one unit at the Shakur Basti Coaching Depot in Delhi.
As preparations progress, officials confirmed that intensive trials and testing have completed successfully for the first sleeper train. Vaishnaw assured the media that the second sleeper train is currently in production and essential for ensuring uninterrupted service.
“Both the trains will be launched together,” Vaishnaw emphasized while highlighting the significance of the second rake in maintaining service continuity. The decision on operational routes will follow the arrival of the second train.
Speculation now arises regarding potential routes, with many suggesting a link between New Delhi and Patna. This timely discussion occurs as Bihar gears up for polls towards the year-end, hinting that the dates are strategically planned to boost connectivity in the region.
During the briefing, which included the Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Vaishnaw outlined various railway infrastructure projects in Punjab. Notably, he spoke about the anticipated 18-kilometre Rajpura-Mohali rail line, designed to connect Chandigarh via the shortest route on the Ambala-Amritsar main line.
The new link will significantly reduce the travel distance by approximately 66 kilometres, while easing congestion on existing routes, particularly the Rajpura-Ambala link and the Ambala-Morinda track.
Further emphasizing progress, Vaishnaw expressed his push for additional train services, specifically a new Vande Bharat route from New Delhi to Firozpur Cantonment. The proposed service will cover key stations such as Faridkot, Bhatinda (W), Dhuri, Patiala, and Ambala Cantonment, among others.
“The train will cover a distance of 486 kilometres between Delhi and Firozpur Cantonment in 6 hours and 40 minutes,” Vaishnaw stated, also hinting at plans to request Prime Minister approval for this route.
The ministers presented a comprehensive report on nine crucial railway projects initiated post-2014. They included lines such as the Nangal Dam-Daulat Pur Chowk line, which spans 61 kilometres with a budget of Rs 672 crore, and several others aimed at doubling existing lines to improve service efficiency.
Furthermore, the government is executing seven railway projects, including the Nangal Dam-Talwara new line and additional doublings to existing lines aimed at enhancing the railroad infrastructure.
Focusing on modernization, Vaishnaw revealed that 30 stations across the nation are undergoing redevelopment as part of the Amrit Bharat station redevelopment scheme.
Highlighting overall achievements, he noted that 29 railway divisions, including those in Malda, Mysore, Sialdah, Nagpur, and Trivandrum, have achieved a remarkable 90% punctuality rate. The push towards rail modernization and enhanced connectivity positions India robustly in the global transport sector.
