An encouraging move towards improving India's rail network is being taken by the Indian Railways as they prepare to debut the Vande Metro. The Vande Metro, often known as the Vande Bharat Metro, is a new breed of trains created for short-distance interstate travel, giving commuters a quicker and more pleasant ride. It was inspired by the success of the Vande Bharat Express. The first trial run of this project, which would cover a lesser distance of 100 to 250 km, is reportedly planned for July 2024. The project was launched by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in February of last year, 2023. Two prototypes are currently being built, one at RCF Kapurthala and the other at ICF Chennai. They are expected to be finished shortly and will go through extensive testing prior to their official debut. With a peak speed of 130 kmph, this self-propelled train set can run without the need for an additional locomotive, establishing a new benchmark for Mainline EMU trains. Additionally, the metro's coaches will have completely air-conditioned interiors with contemporary conveniences, including roomy gangways, dust-free spaces, and lightweight aluminium baggage racks. There will be 100 seated passenger spaces and an extra 200 standing spaces available in each coach. Modern passenger information systems with LCD screens, mobile charging ports, automated entrance and exit doors, and other safety elements like the KAVACH anti-collision system are also included. The Vande Metro is reportedly scheduled to begin service on lines like Lucknow-Kanpur, Agra-Mathura, Delhi-Rewari, Bhubaneswar-Balasore, and Tirupati-Chennai in the inaugural phase. These routes would span between 100 and 250 kilometres and connect 124 important towns across the country.
