The Vande Bharat sleeper train has successfully clocked a top speed of 180 km per hour in the last three trials over 40 km in Rajasthan. The railways announced on Friday that the trials will continue till the end of this month, after which the trains will be shut down to give passengers a global long-distance travel experience.
A video shared by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on the social media platform X showed the train running smoothly at top speed. The clip highlighted a glass of water placed next to a mobile phone on a table inside the train, where the water is completely still even when the train reaches maximum speed. This, the ministry confirmed that this indicates the unparalleled comfort offered by high-speed trains in the past.
Trials in Rajasthan
Trials were conducted between Kota and Laban in Rajasthan, and a maximum train speed of 180 km/h over 30 km was achieved on January 2 between Kota and Nagda. These successful experiments were supervised by RDSO (Research Systems and Standards Organisation), Lucknow.
The ministry stated, "The trials will continue throughout January under RDSO’s supervision. Once completed, the train’s speed and safety parameters will be evaluated by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) before it is officially cleared for operation."
Features and planned routes
The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train is designed to provide an airline-like travel experience. It features automatic doors, ergonomic berths, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Upon successful completion of trials, the train will be introduced for long-distance routes, such as:
- Kashmir to Kanyakumari
- Delhi to Mumbai
- Howrah to Chennai
Passengers can expect a luxurious and efficient travel experience on these and other major routes across the country.
A game-changer for long-distance travel
This development marked a significant step for Indian Railways, promising comfort, speed, and convenience for millions of passengers. With its state-of-the-art features and robust performance in trials, the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train is set to redefine long-distance travel in India.
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