During its debut run on Friday, the new Vande Bharat Express semi-high speed train traveled the 492 miles between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in 5.30 hours.
The train carried as many as 313 people on the first day.
Around 10:30 in the morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signaled the train departure from Gandhinagar.
At 2 pm, the train departed from platform 9 of the Ahmedabad railway station in the direction of Mumbai, and it arrived at Mumbai Central station at 7.30 pm.
In addition to media representatives and railroad officials, 313 passengers were on board, including 47 in executive chair car class and others in chair car coaches.
Only one day prior, reservations for the new train had become available.
Being a part of the train’s first run delighted the passengers, who used their smartphones to take pictures and record films of the event.
Passengers at several stations along the route, railroad workers on adjacent lines, onlookers on the streets, and occupants of the buildings next to the rails could all be seen taking photos or recording movies as the train sped by.
Some of the more praised aspects of the new train included vacuum toilets similar to those seen in airports, roomy and rotating seats in the executive chair car class, the passenger addressing system, broad windows, and an end-to-end gangway.
A real estate businessman named Jaydeep Nimawat was visibly impressed when he traveled to Surat from Ahmedabad with his family to celebrate Navratri.
“When compared to other trains, this one is amazing. The chairs are pleasant and significant, “said him.
A train enthusiast named Siddharth Kinariwala claimed to have purchased an internet ticket for a trip from Ahmedabad to Surat.
“As soon as my manager granted the leave this morning, I immediately purchased a ticket. I wished to see the train myself, “said he.
According to him, the interiors and passenger amenities are excellent, and the seats are comfy and provide enough leg room.
K K Thakur, the co-loco pilot for the Gandhinagar to Ahmedabad trip, told PTI that being given a chance to fly the first flight was a big honor for him and his colleague.
He said that because the dashboard on the train is different from those seen on standard trains, they received specific training prior.
“We left Gandhinagar in a tense environment. Whenever the prime minister displayed the green flag, the crowd sang “Vande Mataram.” “said Thakur.
Yogesh Shah, who also purchased a ticket for the return trip, expressed how much he was enjoying the tour.
According to Shah, the train has many features, but it also has to be well-maintained.
He continued by saying that the price was fair, given the amenities.
A railway official noted that the chair car coaches are slightly crowded because of the tight gangway.
An IRCTC employee said that shifting seat handles made it impossible to carry food carts.
But this train has more excellent seats than the previous Vande Bharat trains traveling on other routes since they have reclining chairs. The staffer added that the interiors are also much superior.
The third Vande Bharat Express runs between Gujarat’s and Maharashtra’s capital cities. The first such train traveled between New Delhi and Varanasi, while the second ran between New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
