Ahead of its debut, the Indian Railways announced the renaming of the ‘Vande Metro’ service to ‘Namo Bharat Rapid Rail’ on Monday, September 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India’s first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail besides several other Vande Bharat trains during his visit to Gujarat today.
The inaugural journey will commence from Bhuj and reach Ahmedabad, covering 359 kilometres in just 5 hours and 45 minutes. The regular service for the passengers will launch on September 17, with a ticket price of Rs 455 for the entire journey, making the journey cost-effective for commuters.
The train will run at a maximum speed of 110 kmph and will stop at several stations – Anjar, Gandhidham, Bhachau, Samakhiali, Halvad, Dhrangadhra, Viramgam, Chandlodiya, Sabarmati and Kalupur (Ahmedabad station).
Namo Bharat Rapid Rail: for short-distance travel between cities…#ComingSoon pic.twitter.com/MazJ36CMX5— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) September 16, 2024
Redefining Concept Of Metro Travel
With its launch, the Indian Railways has redefined the concept of metro travel. Unlike traditional metros that operate between urban stations, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail will cover inter-city destinations, bridging urban centres with surrounding areas. It caters to a broader travel range, unlike urban metro services.
It will carry up to 2,058 standing passengers, with seating arrangement for 1,150. The train comes fitted with cushioned sofas for seating and has air-conditioned coaches.
Although many people claim that it resembles the Vande Bharat Express, the reality is that features more suburban metro trains as it comes with automatic sliding doors and engines at both ends. It will also be unreserved, allowing passengers to purchase the travel ticket just before its departure.
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