Indian Railways is preparing to start Lucknow-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express soon, which will be the second Vande Bharat Express of Uttar Pradesh. This will also be the first mini version of Vande Bharat train in the state, which will connect Lucknow with Gorakhpur via Ayodhya. The Mini Vande Bharat Express comprises eight coaches instead of 16 and is a smaller version of the semi-high speed train currently running between Chennai Central and Coimbatore Junction. According to a report in IANS, Divisional Railway Manager, NER-Lucknow, Aditya Kumar said, “The train will connect Gorakhpur to Lucknow via Ayodhya.”
To ensure financial viability on shorter routes, the Indian Railways has recently introduced a shorter version of the Vande Bharat Express consisting of eight coaches instead of 16. According to IANS, the train is likely to be flagged off on July 7. “We are hopeful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the train operations; however, we are yet to receive consent from the PMO office,” said the source.
Lucknow-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express
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The route, schedule and fare are yet to be decided but it is expected that the Railway Board will give approval a few days before the flagging off ceremony. Vande Bharat Express is likely to cover the distance of 302 km (via Ayodhya Junction) in less than four hours. The train will run at a maximum speed of 110 kmph on the track, although the train cruises at a limit of 160 kmph.
Currently, Arunachal Superfast Express (22411), which runs between Gorakhpur and Lucknow on Sundays and Wednesdays, covers the 270 km journey (via Gonda Junction) in the shortest time of 4 hrs 35 mins, followed by seven Kranti Superfast Express is (12557). and Gorakhdham Superfast Express (12555) both take 4 hrs 50 mins to cover the distance.
Maintaining the speed and punctuality of the Vande Bharat Express will be a challenge, as the NER has a double track from Gorakhpur Junction to Mankapur Junction; However, after Mankapur Junction, it is single track till Barabanki Junction via Ayodhya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched five Vande Bharat Express trains in a single day on June 27, 2023 from Bhopal’s Rani Kampalapati Railway Station, taking the total number of Vande Bharat trains in India to 23.