NEW DELHI: Indian Railways is set to introduce an 8-coach Vande Bharat Express train in Uttar Pradesh, marking the arrival of a mini version of the semi-high-speed train in the state. This new Vande Bharat Express will connect Lucknow to Gorakhpur via Ayodhya, offering enhanced transportation options for passengers.

The inaugural journey of the Lucknow-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur route is scheduled for 7th July, with the expectation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the train operation. However, the final confirmation from the PMO office is still pending.

This remarkable train will cover a distance of 302 km through Ayodhya junction in less than four hours. Currently, the travel time on this route by train ranges from 4.30 to 5 hours. The Arunachal Superfast Express, train no. 22411, holds the record for the shortest travel time between Gorakhpur and Lucknow, completing the journey via Gonda junction in 4 hours and 35 minutes. Other trains like the Sapt Kranti Superfast Express (train no. 12557) and the Gorakhdham Superfast Express (train no. 12555) take approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes for the same journey.

Although there is no official announcement regarding fares and routes, the railway board will release the details prior to the train's launch.

In a recent event, PM Modi flagged off five Vande Bharat Express trains from Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in Bhopal. These trains will significantly enhance connectivity in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Bihar, and Jharkhand. The five Vande Bharat Express trains flagged off by PM Modi include the Rani Kamalapati (Bhopal)-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express, the Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express, the Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express, the Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, and the Hatia-Patna Vande Bharat Express.

According to recent reports, the Kasaragod to Trivandrum route is home to the best-performing Vande Bharat Express, with an impressive average occupancy rate of 183 percent among the 23 pairs of such trains operating across the railway network. The Vande Bharat Express between Trivandrum and Kasaragod in Kerala follows closely, with an average occupancy of 176 percent, while the Gandhinagar-Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express maintains a respectable average occupancy of 134 percent. Occupancy is calculated based on the total number of passengers traveling on a specific train route, encompassing both those boarding and disembarking at intermediate stations.

With a maximum permissible speed of 160 kmph, the Vande Bharat Express offers swift acceleration, making it the fastest passenger train on its designated routes. Since April 1, 2022, until June 21, 2023, the Vande Bharat Express has successfully completed 2,140 trips and served an impressive total of 2,520,370 passengers.

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