“Previewing India’s New Saffron Vande Bharat Express: A Glimpse of the Semi-High Speed Icon”
“Indian Railways Unveils New Saffron-Coloured Vande Bharat Express: A Glimpse of the Upcoming Semi-High Speed Icon”
The Indian Railways is gearing up to introduce the latest addition to its fleet, the saffron-coloured Vande Bharat Express, as revealed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during his visit to the Integrated Coach Factory in Chennai. The minister inspected the new train and highlighted its tricolour-inspired saffron hue. While the train remains stationed at the ICF manufacturing unit for now, recent images depict the Vande Bharat Express making its first appearance on the railway tracks outside the factory.
The 28th rake of the Vande Bharat Express, built in India for semi-high-speed travel, boasts a distinctive saffron colour. Currently, 25 operational Vande Bharat Express trains traverse the country, and two more are awaiting deployment in their traditional white and blue liveries. The change in color for the 28th rake is experimental in nature, according to railway officials. Initially anticipated to be inaugurated on India’s Independence Day, August 15, the launch date was later reported as August 19.
Union Minister Vaishnaw underlined that the new colour scheme is influenced by the Indian Tricolour, emphasizing the train’s connection to national identity. The Vande Bharat Express project showcases the principles of ‘Make In India’, with contributions from Indian engineers and technicians. Feedback from operational units has led to 25 improvements in the Vande Bharat trains, focusing on aspects such as air conditioning and toilets.
Vaishnaw also announced the incorporation of a new safety feature known as ‘anti climbers’, designed to enhance safety for passengers. This feature will become a standard element in all Vande Bharat and other train designs. The Vande Bharat Express, India’s semi-high-speed train series, now serves all rail-electrified states across the nation. The inaugural Vande Bharat Express embarked on its journey between New Delhi and Varanasi on February 15, 2019, symbolizing the ‘Make-In-India’ initiative and showcasing the nation’s engineering expertise.