Patna: The Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat express (no. 22348/22347) is likely to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the end of this month, a senior officer of the East Central Railway (ECR) said.
The much-awaited Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat express is among the five similar trains, being readied for the commercial run on August 28. Earlier, formal running of at least three Vande Bharat express trains, including Vijayawada-Chennai, Patna-Howrah and Tirunelveli-Chennai, were scheduled to be launched on August 15. However, the plan had to be postponed for want allocation of time slot by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the ECR officer said.
Also Read: Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat exp conducts successful trail run
The eight-coach rake of Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat express arrived in Patna on August 1. The first trial run was conducted on August 5 after necessary technical check at Rajendra Nagar coaching yard. The train has been tested okay for commercial run after the second successful trial run between the stations on August 13.
Chief public relations officer (CPRO), ECR, Birendra Kumar said that the zone was yet to complete the formalities for the commercial run, as some of the back-end work were not over yet. “We are yet to finalise the schedule for run and work out other operational details such as fare,” said the CPRO.
Also Read: Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat exp’s trial run courts controversy
However, a senior officer of the operation wing of the ECR, requesting anonymity, said that the train was ready for the inaugural run and they were waiting for the PMO’s consent for the flagging off.
During the trial run, the Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat completed the 535km journey in 6.30 hours from both sides with clocking top speed of 130kmph.
Also Read: Prime Minister flags off 5 new Vande Bharat exp trains from Bhopal
PM Narendra Modi had last flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains, Gorakhpur-Lucknow and Jodhpur-Sabarmati, on July 7. A senior officer of the railway ministry said that a total of five Vande Bharat express rakes have been readied for the opening after their successful trial runs. Other two rakes are to shuttle between Kacheguda-Yesvantpur and Udaipur-Jaipur.
Jalliawalabagh Express to have stoppage at Koderma
The 12380 Amritsar-Sealdah Jalliawalabagh express will have two-minute stoppage at Koderma station of Dhanbad rail division with effect from August 28. The CPRO said that the provide stoppage of the train at the station was taken in view of demand of the passengers and in keeping with traffic feasibility. “The train will arrive at the station at 9.56 am,” said Kumar.
