India's first semi-high speed train, Vande Bharat Express, begins commercial-run
The Vande Bharat Express, India's first semi-high speed train, began its first commercial run today, a day after it broke down on its way to Delhi from Varanasi. "Vande Bharat Express left Delhi for Varanasi today morning on its first commercial run. Tickets sold out for the next two weeks already. Get yours today!" tweeted Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. Here's more.
'Get your tickets today!' tweeted Railway Minister Piyush Goyal
Day after launch, the train faced breakdowns on return journey
The Indian Railways issued a statement yesterday stating the issue faced by the train on its return journey from Varanasi when it stopped at Chamraula station of NCR. "There was an issue of communication between the last basic unit of 4 coaches and the rest of the train probably due to some external hit. Thereafter, safety features in the train applied brakes," it said.
First breakdown occurred 15 km from Tundla junction
The railways said the train was checked for faults and then moved to Delhi. Train 18, which was recently rechristened Vande Bharat Express, had left Varanasi Junction for Delhi at 10:30 pm Friday, nearly 45 minutes after reaching the holy city on its inaugural journey. The first breakdown occurred around 15 km from Tundla junction in Uttar Pradesh early morning.
The passengers shared their experience of the breakdowns
The Northern Railway CPRO Deepak Kumar had said that the first breakdown was a case of skidding wheels after the train ran over cattle. According to the passengers, which also included some journalists, the train was stuck near Tundla for over an hour. They said before the train came to a halt, its end coaches started making a rattling sound.
RaGa attacked PM Modi over the Make in India initiative
One of the passengers said, "There was some smell in the last four coaches which had no power. Also, some smoke was noticed. Loco pilots decreased the speed for some time. I heard them talking about brake malfunction." In a war of words over the train, Congress President Rahul Gandhi mocked PM Modi's Make in India initiative but got a quick response from Goyal.
