Vande Bharat Express Runs Over Cattle, Stops in Tracks For Over an Hour Day After Official Launch by PM Modi

The semi-high speed was launched by the PM on Friday.

New Delhi: A day after it was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vande Bharat Express was left standing 18km from Tundla on Saturday morning.

ANI quoted the Railways Ministry as saying that the train stood there from 6.30 AM because of a possible cattle run-over. It wasn’t a scheduled commercial run for the train as the same would begin from Sunday, February 17.

Journey to Delhi could commence only around 8.15 AM.

The train covers the 755-km distance (Delhi-Varanasi) in eight hours with stoppages at Kanpur and Prayagraj and is the fastest train on the route.

Vande Bharat Express, earlier called Train 18, was launched by PM Modi on Friday.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that going ahead with the inauguration of the train was a befitting reply to the terrorists who perpetrated the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF jawans lost their lives.

He said the decision to continue with the programme was inspired by the way Mumbai reacted by showing its resilience in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks.

Meanwhile, Vande Bharat Express runs between Delhi and Varanasi. Along with the finest amenities, it has partnered with restaurant chain Pind Balluchi and The Landmark Hotel for onboard meals, said reports.

A Railways order said chair car tickets for Varanasi-bound train are priced at Rs 1,760 while the executive class would set back one by Rs 3,310. For the return journey, a chair car ticket would cost Rs 1,700 while the executive class ticket is priced at Rs 3,260.

Bookings have started for the first commercial run of the train billed as India’s fastest train. Tickets can be bought over the counter or booked on irctc.co.in.

The train will leave the national capital at 6 AM and reach Varanasi at 2 PM. On the same day, it will leave Varanasi at 3 PM and reach Delhi at 11 PM. The Vande Bharat Express will operate for five days in a week, except on Monday and Thursday.