The government of India has already started manufacture of cheaper version of Vande Bharat Express. The official announcement of the name of this train has not been made yet but sources say that its name could be Vande Sadharan or Vande Antyodaya.
The fare of Vande Sadharan will be lower than that of Vande Bharat. These will be completely non-AC trains in which there will be only sleeper and general class coaches for passengers. Due to being a non-AC train, the cost of running it will be less.
The new trains will have all the features of Vande Bharat except for AC. This will be the first non-AC train in the country with such amenities for passengers.
Why government realised that cheaper version of Vande Bharat was required?
Vande Bharat is an ambitious scheme of the government, through which an attempt is being made to revamp the railways. Recently, seeing that the newly launched Vande Bharat trains did not achieve much success. Most of the Vande Bharat trains were running with empty seats. The government has now come up with a new plan. The government will bring a non-AC train with facilities like Vande Bharat train.
The decision to bring Vande Sadharan train amidst questions arising over the success of Vande Bharat train is significant. It is noteworthy that due to high fares, most of the coaches of Vande Bharat train are going empty on most routes.
What facilities will be available in Vande Sadharan?
The new trains will have all the features of Vande Bharat except for AC. These will include bio-vacuum toilets, charging points on every seat, passenger information system, CCTV cameras and automatic doors. This will be the first non-AC train lashed with these amenities.
According to sources, there will also be more space in these coaches which will be made of light aluminum. There will be engines on both sides of the train. Usually trains in India have only one engine.
Vande Sadharan will have two luggage coaches, coaches for disabled people, eight second class general coaches and 12 3-tier sleeper coaches.
Where is this train being built?
The construction of coaches of these non-AC train is being done at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. The coaches of Vande Bharat train are also built in this factory. The new train can run on track by the end of this year.
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