UPDATE
NEW DELHI: India’s soon-to-be fastest train, the second Vande Bharat Express, successfully completed its trial run from New Delhi to Katra. The run was conducted by Northern Railway Zone of the Indian Railways, on July 23, and another run is scheduled for today, July 24.
After the successful Confirmatory Oscillograph Car Runs (COCR) trial of the new Vande Bharat Express on the Delhi-Katra route, it is expected that the train might soon extend its service to Vaishno Devi.
The train commenced its journey from New Delhi Railway Station at 6:00 AM and after three two-minute stoppages at Ambala Cantt station, Ludhiana Station and Jammu Tawi station, the train reached Katra Railway station at 2:00 PM, completing the journey in 8 hours.
According to the sources, the second Vande Bharat Express is proposed to run three days a week, on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The train will leave from Delhi at 6:00 AM and reach Katra at 2:00 PM on the same day. On its return journey, the train will leave from Katra the same day at 3:00 PM and reach the capital at 11:00 PM.
The train is equipped with a GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, onboard hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purposes, pantry and bio-vacuum toilets, improved seating, a facility for freezer and hot case.