Presently, 05 pairs of Vande Bharat Express and 04 pairs of Tejas Express services are being operated on Indian Railways (IR) network. During the year 2022-23(upto 30th November, 2022), 26 commercial trips of Bharat Gaurav Trains have been operated.
Vande Bharat Express services, being operated with Train Sets, provide faster services and have ultra modern features like quick acceleration, onboard infotainment and Global Positioning System (GPS) based passenger information system, automatic sliding doors, retractable footsteps, Zero discharge vacuum bio toilets, etc.
Tejas Express services also aim at providing faster services utilizing Tejas type coaches, which are ultra modern coaches with automatic entrance doors, Passenger Announcement/Passenger Information system, Fire and Smoke detection system, CCTV cameras, etc.
Bharat Gaurav trains aim at showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world through operation of tourist circuit trains.
26 commercial trips of Bharat Gaurav trains have been operated under the Bharat Gaurav Trains scheme, during the period April, 2022 to November, 2022. Under the policy of operation of Bharat Gaurav trains, potential service providers, including Public Sector Undertakings or other entities who meet the eligibility criteria, can run Bharat Gaurav trains. The service providers have full flexibility to decide the themes/itineraries for operation of Bharat Gaurav tourist circuit trains depending upon market demand, commercial viability, etc. The Service Providers offer a comprehensive package with facility of rail transportation, accommodation, meals, local road transport, sightseeing etc to the tourists.
Introduction of new trains including Vande Bharat Express, Tejas Express services which is dependent on operational feasibility, resource availability, traffic pattern, competing demand etc, is an ongoing process on Indian Railways. Under the policy of operation of Bharat Gaurav trains, potential service providers, meeting eligibility criteria, can operate Bharat Gaurav trains.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Thursday.
