Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed on Tuesday that the highly anticipated Vande Bharat Sleeper trains will commence operations once the second train is ready for service. The initial train, stationed at the Shakur Basti Coaching Depot in Delhi, successfully completed all necessary trials and is primed for launch.
According to officials, the second Vande Bharat Sleeper train is currently under production and is projected to be operational by October 15, 2025. Vaishnaw emphasized the importance of having two trains to ensure uninterrupted regular services, stating, “Once we have the second rake, we will decide on a route and set the operations in motion.”
There is widespread speculation regarding the potential launch route, with many anticipating a connection between New Delhi and Patna. This speculation arises as Bihar prepares for its upcoming elections later this year.
During a media briefing, Vaishnaw, along with Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, outlined the current status of railway projects in Punjab. The pair highlighted an upcoming 18-kilometre rail line from Rajpura to Mohali. This new link, using the Ambala-Amritsar main line, will significantly reduce travel time to Chandigarh by approximately 66 kilometres.
The new rail connection will not only provide direct access between Rajpura and Mohali but also ease traffic congestion on the existing Rajpura-Ambala route, improving overall transit efficiency.
Vaishnaw also announced plans for an additional Vande Bharat train connecting New Delhi with Firozpur Cantonment. This route will facilitate service to key stations including Faridkot, Bhatinda (W), Dhuri, Patiala, Ambala Cantonment, Kurukshetra, and Panipat. Passengers can expect to travel the 486-kilometre distance between Delhi and Firozpur in approximately six hours and forty minutes.
“I will request the Prime Minister to approve the Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat train,” Vaishnaw stated, expressing optimism about expanding train connectivity across regions.
During the briefing, the ministers also revealed details about nine significant railway projects that have gained traction since 2014. These projects include the 61-kilometre Nangal Dam-Daulat Pur Chowk line, the Chakki Bank-Bharoli line doubling, and various others enhancing Punjab’s railway infrastructure.
Furthermore, several railway projects are currently underway, aiming to improve connectivity across the state. These include the Nangal Dam-Talwara new line, Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri new line, and the doubling of the Mansa-Bhatinda line.
Vaishnaw added that the Railway Ministry is committed to redeveloping 30 stations as part of the Amrit Bharat Station redevelopment scheme, a move aimed at modernizing and enhancing passenger experiences.
Highlighting the improvements in train punctuality, Vaishnaw stated that 29 rail divisions, including Malda, Mysore, Sialdah, Nagpur, and Trivandrum, achieved an impressive 90 percent on-time performance. This achievement reflects the government’s emphasis on efficiency and customer satisfaction in railway services.
The launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains signifies a pivotal step in modernizing India’s railway network, enhancing passenger comfort, and ensuring timely travel across the nation.
