Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated nine Vande Bharat trains via video conferencing on Sunday, establishing vital rail connections across 11 different states. During the inaugural event, PM Modi emphasised his vision of extending the Vande Bharat train network to encompass every corner of the nation in the not-so-distant future. He also highlighted that these trains will significantly improve connectivity as well as boost tourism across India.
Nine Vande Bharat Express trains being launched today will significantly improve connectivity as well as boost tourism across India. https://t.co/btK05Zm2zC
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2023
The newly launched Vande Bharat trains come with top-notch facilities and state-of-the-art safety features.
The Indian Railways have left no stone unturned in refining the Vande Bharat Express experience for passengers. Among the notable changes is the seat reclination angle, which has been increased from 17.31 degrees to a more comfortable 19.37 degrees. Passengers can now look forward to a more relaxing journey with optimised cushion hardness. In a visual transformation, the seat colour in the executive class coach has been switched from red to blue.
Passengers’ demands for improved accessibility have also been met, with enhanced mobile charging points placed under the seats. Extended footrests offer extra comfort, and executive class travellers will find magazine bags for their convenience.
The wash basin depth has been increased to prevent water splashing, and toilet lighting has been upgraded from 1.5 watts to 2.5 watts. Passengers will notice an additional bend in the toilet handle for improved grip and a water tap aerator for better water flow control.
For the convenience of Divyang passengers, there are now provisions for securing wheelchairs in the driving trailer coaches. The new Vande Bharat trains boast improved air tightness to enhance air conditioning along with better roller blind fabric that offers more tear strength and less transparency. The controls for luggage rack lights have been upgraded from resistive -touch to capacitive touch.
Safety remains a top priority, with the introduction of an aerosol-based fire detection and suppression system inside the coaches. This innovation is set to provide passengers with an added layer of security during their journeys.
Adding to this occasion, the Indian Railways unveiled its first orange-coloured Vande Bharat Express on the Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram route, a high-demand corridor now serviced by two of these trains, according to a PTI report. Furthermore, plans are in place to introduce nine more orange-coloured Vande Bharat Express trains over the next two months, marking a significant expansion of this passenger-centric service, the report added.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
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