HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, May 28: The first Vande Bharat Express train from Assam will be virtually flagged off from Guwahati by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in presence of other dignitaries on Monday. The Prime Minister will also dedicate 182 kms of newly electrified sections apart from inaugurating a newly constructed DEMU/MEMU shed at Lumding in Assam.
Notably, with the arrival of the state-of-art Vande Bharat Express in Assam, people of north-east, Assam in particular will be able to experience travelling by rail with speed and comfort. As the semi high speed train comprises all the latest amenities, the difference can be well experienced by the people of north-east during travel.
This train will pass through Kamrup (Metropolitan), Kamrup (Rural), Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Kokrajhar districts of Assam and Alipurduar, New Coochbehar and Jalpaiguri district of North Bengal. People of this vast area will be able to reap the benefit of modern rail travel comfortably. The existing rail travel time by the speediest train in the New Jalpaiguri – Guwahati section will be reduced by about an hour. People from various fraternities will get the benefit. Sectors like trade, tourism and travel of this region will be benefitted immensely.
The inaugural run of 02228 (Guwahati – New Jalpaiguri) Vande Bharat Express will commence from Guwahati at 12:00 hours on Monday and will reach New Jalpaiguri at 18:00 hours. During its inaugural run, the train will have stoppages at Kamakhya, Rangiya Jn, Nalbari, Bijni, New Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Fakiragram Jn, New Alipurduar, New Cooch Behar and Dhupguri.
Regular services of train no 22228/22227 (Guwahati – New Jalpaiguri – Guwahati) Vande Bharat Express will commence from May 31, 2023 onwards. The train will operate six days a week except Tuesday. Train no 22227 (New Jalpaiguri – Guwahati) Vande Bharat Express will depart from New Jalpaiguri at 06:10 hours from May 31, 2023 to reach Guwahati at 11:40 hours. In return direction, train no 22228 (Guwahati – New Jalpaiguri) Vande Bharat Express will depart from Guwahati at 16:30 hours from May 31, 2023 to reach New Jalpaiguri at 22:00 hours. During its both ways journey, the train will have stoppages at Kamakhya, New Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, New Alipurduar and New Cooch Behar stations. In its one-way journey, the Vande Bharat Express will cover a distance of 411 kms in 5 hours and 30 minutes. The composition of the train will be of 8 coaches with seating capacity of 530. There will be one executive class, five chair car and two driver trail coaches.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate the 91.03 km long New Bongaigaon-Dudhnoi-Mendipathar newly electrified section. With the electrification of this section freight and passenger carrying trains with electric traction can now enter Meghalaya from any parts of our country. The Guwahati – Chaparmukh 91 km newly electrified section is also going to be dedicated by the Prime Minister. Falling on the Rajdhani route, electrification of this section will provide pollution free transportation, higher speed of trains, reduced running time of trains and reduced cost of train operation.
A new DEMU/MEMU shed that has been constructed recently at Lumding will also be inaugurated by PM Modi. Lumding is the gateway to the hilly North eastern Indian states like Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and parts of Assam. This new facility will be helpful for maintaining DEMU rakes operating in this region leading to better operational feasibility and passenger amenity, said a release by NF Railway.
