A virtual flag off for Northeast’s first Vande Bharat Express by PM

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off Northeast’s 1st Vande Bharat Express and India’s 18th, linking Guwahati to West Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri.

Along with the semi-high-speed train, PM Modi also dedicated to the nation the electrified sections of New Bongaigaon–Dudhnoi–Mendipather and Guwahati–Chaparmukh. He also dedicated the new DEMU/MEMU (train workshop) shed at Lumding.

Assam’s first and Bengal’s third semi-high-speed railway would run 411 km between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri in five hours and thirty minutes. Except for Tuesday, it will be open six days a week.

Before the event, Railway Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw stated that the centre is working on the policy of ‘Act East.’

“It is with great pleasure that Prime Minister Modi will launch the Northeast’s first Vande Bharat Express today.” “It used to be ‘Look East,’ but now it’s ‘Act East,'” he told news agency ANI.

Vande Bharat Express Executive Chair Cars have a seating capacity of 52, standard Chair Cars have a seating capacity of 78 and driving trailer coaches have a seating capacity of 44.

According to a government source, the Vande Bharat train “discovers the new age rail travel with airline-like travel feelings for people of the northeast who will be able to feel the comfort and speed during the journey.”

“Vande Bharat Express, the symbol of rail travel with Speed and latest amenities, reached Guwahati railway station, the Gateway of the Northeast for the first time during a trial run conducted today from New Jalpaiguri,” Northeast Railways tweeted last week.

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