The Vande Metro Train, part of the high-speed rail project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, successfully completed its first trial run earlier this week, reaching speeds of 130 km/h. The trial, which was closely monitored by the Railway Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), covered the distance between the two cities, passing through Surat.

Inspired by the Vande Bharat train, the Vande Metro is designed for faster intercity travel with features like fully air-conditioned coaches, CCTV surveillance, a talk-back system, and passenger information boards. It boasts 12 coaches with a total of 1,150 ergonomically designed seats.

One of the key highlights of the Vande Metro is its ability to accelerate and decelerate quickly, allowing it to reduce travel times on mid-distance routes. It is expected to serve routes between 250 and 350 km, with travel times of 3 to 5 hours.

The trial run is a significant step towards launching this intercity rail service, which aims to provide a modern and efficient transport option between major cities.