The Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to virtually inaugurate the first Amrit Bharat train, including one route from Malda tomorrow, another train Balurghat-Sealdah-Balurghat Express would be flagged off by the railways minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw through videoconferencing on 1 January 2024.
The PM is to virtually flag off two new Amrit Bharat trains, including Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and Malda Town-Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express today.
The Amrit Bharat train from Malda has been named as Malda Town-Bengaluru Amrit Bharat Express. Numbered as 13434, the express train is to be operated weekly on Sundays at 8.50am to reach Bangaluru on Tuesday. On the return journey, the train, 13433, is to start from Bangaluru on Thursday at 11am.
In addition, Mr Modi is also to flag off six new Vande Bharat trains, namely Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express; Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Express; Coimbatore-Bangalore Cantt Vande Bharat Express; Mangalore-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express; Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express and Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Vande Bharat Express tomorrow.
The other new train that the state is slated to get on Monday is numbered as 13189 for up and 13190 for the down direction. The regular run of the train is to commence from Sealdah on 2 January and from Balurghat from 3 January. The train, as informed by the Eastern Railway, is to have daily service.
The 13189 Sealdah-Balurghat Express would leave Sealdah at 10.30pm and arrive at Balurghat at 8.30am the next day. In the other direction, 13190 Balurghat-Sealdah Express would start from Balurghat at 7pm and arrive at Sealdah station at 4.20am on the next day. As informed by the ER, the train will stop at Naihati, Bandel, Nabadwipdham, Katwa, Azimganj, Jangipur Road, New Farakka, Malda Town, Eklakhi, Gazole, Buniadpur, Ganga Rampur and Rampur stations en route in both the directions.
What’s special about Indian Railways new train?
Amrit Bharat Express: Indian Railways has unveiled a completely new train for the aam Aadmi, keeping in mind the needs of passengers who travel in non-AC trains. The Amrit Bharat Express, formerly called Vande Sadharan at the design stage, is a push-pull train which draws inspiration from the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express in terms of looks and features. PM Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the Amrit Bharat Express for second class sleeper and general unreserved passengers on December 30.
WAP5 6,000 HP locomotive at each end
Amrit Bharat Express has one locomotive at each end of the train. This WAP5 locomotive, manufactured by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, is of 6,000 HP. The train has Vande Bharat style aerodynamically designed locomotives in terms of the looks.
Amrit Bharat Express train interior
Amrit Bharat Express will have 22 coaches with 12 second class sleeper coaches, 8 general class coaches for unreserved passengers and two guard compartments. The new train will offer space for differently abled passengers as well.
Amrit Bharat push-pull train
The two Amrit Bharat Express locomotives together enable the push pull operation of the train. According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, using the push pull technology to run the train, the engine at the front of the train pulls the train while the one at the back pushes it.
Modular toilets
Amrit Bharat trains have zero discharge FRP modular toilets. Amrit Bharat trains have been manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai. According to ICF GM BG Mallya, for non-AC coaches, normally toilets are the weakest links. “On these trains, the toilets will be almost equivalent to the Vande Bharat,” Mallya told TOI earlier this year.
Cushioned luggage racks
Amrit Bharat trains come with cushioned luggage racks. The seats are also aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically designed with improved colour blending, says Indian Railways.
Amrit Bharat train features
Amrit Bharat trains will have sealed gangways, similar to metro trains, but a watered-down version of Vande Bharat Express. These sealed gangways will allow smooth transit between coaches and also prevent rainwater from falling inside.
Mobile charging points and holders
In a big convenience for passengers, Amrit Bharat trains have a mobile charger with a suitable holder next to each seat. There is also a foldable bottle holder made of plastic instead of metal in line with the Railway Board’s instructions to use “anti-injury” fittings.
Jerk-free rides!
Amrit Bharat train offers jerk-free rides! Yet another important feature of the Amrit Bharat trains is the semi-permanent couplers similar to Vande Bharat trains that have been used. These couplers negate jerks when a train starts or stops. Hence, passengers travelling on the Amrit Bharat trains can look forward to a smooth ride experience.
Amrit Bharat speed and routes
Amrit Bharat trains will be able to run at maximum permissible speeds of up to 130 kmph. The new train has control couplers on end walls for push pull operation with locomotives at both ends of the train. PM Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the first two Amrit Bharat trains between Ayodhya and Darbhanga and Bengaluru and Malda on December 30, 2023. The final routes and stoppages are being decided.
Faster acceleration
Amrit Bharat train’s push-pull operation results in better acceleration and deceleration, which in turn helps save travel time at curves, bridges etc. where trains have to run with speed restrictions. Giving an example, Vaishnaw said that if an Amrit Bharat train were to run between Delhi and Kolkata it would save around 2 hours compared to a regular train.
Amrit Bharat improved design
Other features of Amrit Bharat trains include improved design light-weight foldable snack table, aerosol Based Fire suppression system in toilets and electrical cubicles.
Fare structure of new train
Indian Railways has kept the minimum fare for travelling on the Amrit Bharat Express trains for a distance of up to Rs 50 kilometres is Rs 35 for the second class coach.For a second class journey in a Mail/Express train, this base fare is Rs 30. The minimum fare for the sleeper class for a journey up to 15 kilometres is Rs 46, while for 50 kilometres is Rs 65.
The minimum fare for distances up to 5000 kilometres will be Rs 933 for second class and Rs 1469 for sleeper class. This fare is exclusive of reservation fee, supplementary charge for Superfast trains, Goods and Service Tax (GST) etc. which will be levied additionally.
