Lok Sabha Question No. 18 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Introduction of New Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi, Janardan Singh Sigriwal, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 18

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## INTRODUCTION OF NEW TRAINS

18. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  started  Vande  Bharat,  Bharat  Gaurav and Tejas trains, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) if so, the details along with the features, aims and objectives thereof;
- (c) the details of route/sector selected for the purpose;
- (d) the details of the number of such trains that are being operated by the Government currently within the country;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  expand  the  network  of such trains, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the other steps being taken by the Government regarding introduction  of  new  trains,  increase  theme  based  tourist  circuit  trains and the frequency of trains in different zones of Indian Railways?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 18 BY DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY,  SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL, DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY AND SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.12.2022 REGARDING  INTRODUCTION OF NEW TRAINS.

(a)  to  (d)  Yes,  Sir.  Presently,  05  pairs  of  Vande  Bharat  Express  and  04 pairs  of  Tejas  Express  services  are  being  operated on  Indian  Railways (IR)  network.  During  the  year  2022-23(upto  30 th   November,  2022),  26 commercial trips of Bharat Gaurav Trains have been operated.

Vande  Bharat  Express  services,  being  operated  with  Train  Sets, provide  faster  services  and  have  ultra  modern  features  like  quick acceleration, on board infotainment and Global Positioning System (GPS) based passenger information system, automatic sliding doors, retractable footsteps, Zero discharge vacuum bio toilets, etc.

Tejas  Express  services  also  aim  at  providing  faster  services utilizing  Tejas  type  coaches,  which  are  ultra  modern  coaches  with automatic entrance doors, Passenger Announcement/Passenger Information  system,  Fire  and  Smoke  detection  system,  CCTV  cameras, etc.

Bharat  Gaurav  trains  aims  at  showcasing  India's  rich  cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world through operation of tourist circuit trains.

The details of Vande Bharat Express, Tejas Express and Bharat Gaurav trains are as under:-

## Vande Bharat Express:

- (1) 22435/22436 New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express
- (2) 22439/22440 New Delhi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express
- (3) 20901/20902 Mumbai Central - Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express
- (4) 22447/22448 New Delhi - Amb Andaura Vande Bharat Express
5. (5)
6. 20607/20608 Chennai Central- Mysuru Vande Bharat Express

## Tejas Express

- (1) 22671/22672 Chennai Egmore - Madurai Jn Tejas Express
2. (2)
3. 22119/22120  C Shivaji Maharaj T -Karmali Tejas Express
- (3) 82501/82502 Lucknow-New Delhi Tejas Express
- (4) 82901/82902 Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Tejas Express

Besides,  04  pairs  of  Rajdhani  Express  services  are  being  operated  with Tejas rakes as indicated below:

- (1) 20501/20502 Agartala-Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express
- (2) 12309/10 Rajendranagar-New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express
- (3) 12951/12952 Mumbai Central- New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express
- (4) 12953/12954  Mumbai  Central-  New  Delhi  August  Kranti  Tejas Rajdhani Express

## Bharat Gaurav services:

26 commercial trips of Bharat Gaurav trains have been operated under the Bharat Gaurav Trains scheme, during the period April, 2022 to November, 2022.  Under  the  policy  of  operation  of  Bharat  Gaurav  trains,  potential service  providers,  including  Public  Sector  Undertakings  or  other  entities who meet the eligibility criteria, can run Bharat Gaurav trains. The service providers have full flexibility to decide the themes/itineraries for operation of  Bharat  Gaurav  tourist  circuit  trains  depending  upon  market  demand, commercial  viability,  etc.  The  Service  Providers  offer  a  comprehensive package with facility of  rail  transportation,  accommodation, meals, local road transport, sightseeing etc to the tourists.

(e)  and  (f)  Introduction  of  new  trains  including  Vande  Bharat  Express, Tejas  Express  services  which  is  dependent  on  operational  feasibility, resource availability, traffic pattern, competing demand etc, is an ongoing process on Indian Railways. Under the policy of operation of Bharat Gaurav trains, potential service providers, meeting eligibility criteria, can operate Bharat Gaurav trains.

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