PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express in New Delhi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the much awaited Vande Bharat Express at New Delhi railway station. It is India's first semi-high speed train which will run from Delhi to Varanasi in nine hours and forty-five minutes. The train will run at a maximum speed of 160 km/hr.

PM Modi observed a two-minute silence for the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in Pulwama attack at the launch. "I pay tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the attack. Our security forces have been given full freedom. We have full faith in their bravery," he said.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and members of the Railway Board are on board the train on its inaugural journey. The train will have stoppage time of 40 minutes each at Kanpur and Allahabad where there will be special programs on this occasion.

Vande Bharat Express, popularly known as Train 18, has 16 air-conditioned coaches of which two are executive class. The total seating capacity is 1,128 passengers on the train.

All coaches are equipped with automatic doors, GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, on-board hotspot WiFi for entertainment purposes and very comfortable seating. All toilets are bio-vacuum type. The lighting is dual mode, that is diffused for general illumination and personal for every seat.