A New Era of Indian Rail Travel with Reduced Travel Times and Modern Amenities
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the 71st Vande Bharat Express, improving travel connectivity between Patliputra and Gorakhpur with reduced travel times and state-of-the-art features. Discover more about this milestone in Indian railway development.
June 20, 2025.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s 71st Vande Bharat Express, a significant milestone in the country's railway development, via a virtual event from Siwan. This new service marks a significant improvement in connectivity between Patliputra in Bihar and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. According to the Railway Ministry, this new service is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities by at least two hours, thereby providing a faster and more comfortable alternative for daily commuters. The inaugural journey commenced around 1 PM from Patliputra station in Patna, met with enthusiastic crowds and celebratory festivities.
While the commencement date for commercial operations has not been disclosed, officials have provided a preliminary schedule. The train is anticipated to depart Gorakhpur at 5:40 AM, arriving in Patliputra at 12:45 PM. The return trip is scheduled for the same day, leaving Patliputra at 3:30 PM and arriving in Gorakhpur by 10:30 PM. The introduction of this Vande Bharat train effectively reduces the travel time between Patliputra and Gorakhpur by two hours; however, the journey could have been expedited further had it taken the more direct route through Chapra instead of Muzaffarpur and Motihari.
The service not only saves users valuable time but also offers an impressive array of world-class features, including advanced LED information panels, state-of-the-art bio-vacuum toilets, and the indigenous safety system known as ‘Kavach’. This system, along with remarkable rapid acceleration capabilities, enhances overall efficiency and user experience, ensuring a safe and secure journey for all passengers.
The train is scheduled to operate six days a week, except Saturdays. It will make stops at several key stations along its route, including Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Bapudham Motihari, Sagauli, Bettiah, Narkatiaganj, and Bagaha. This particular Vande Bharat service marks the 28th operational service in the regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, enhancing connectivity and convenience for passengers travelling between these critical locations.
Vande Bharat trains now operate across a total of 24 states and Union Territories, effectively covering 330 districts nationwide. The inaugural train was officially flagged off on February 15, 2019. Since that significant moment, the Vande Bharat network has experienced rapid and extensive expansion, promising a brighter future for rail travel in India.
While these trains are engineered for impressive speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour, the current state of rail infrastructure, including track conditions and signalling systems, limits their operational speed to just 130 kilometres per hour. Additionally, although the Kavach system offers enhanced safety features, including automatic braking, its complete functionality relies on the installation of necessary supporting infrastructure at various stations, as well as along the tracks themselves.
With ongoing and dedicated efforts to expand the implementation of Kavach, passengers will soon be able to benefit significantly from its advanced safety features and enhanced protection during their travels.
Vande Bharat Express
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