This is India’s impressive NEW high-speed train! – Vande Bharat Express

Indian Railways are rapidly expanding, impressive new infrastructure projects, and even the Vande Bharat Express, a high-speed train built locally in India! Today I'm trying out First Class (or Executive Chair) on the latest generation of this modern train, sampling the on-board meal service, and exploring the fancy interior!

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Journey Details:
Origin: Puratchi Thalaivar Doctor Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran Central Railway Station (Chennai)
Destination: Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru City Station
Company: Indian Railways (IR)
Train: IR Vande Bharat 2nd Generation
Accommodation: Executive Chair (EC)
Distance: 359 kilometres / 223 miles
Price: ₹1885 (£19.50 / €22.30 / $23.10)
Time: 4 hours 25 minutes, arrived 14 minutes late

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Find me elsewhere:

[bhyomkeshbakshika]

Finally a foreign national atlast focussing on something which makes us Indians feel proud about an Indian manufactured & invented comfort

[EsotericDesi]

Indian Railways is making huge progress... Here in USA, so far, the national rail companies have only gone backwards... at least for now...

[Dimitri_]

Love from Argentina 🇦🇷❤️
Love India❤😊

[secretmanPFD]

I'm from the UK, stuck with I.E.T.s, and god am I jealous of these sets! look so comfortable. great job on these trains!

[lorencekacharifilms]

Love from Nagaland 🇮🇳🤗India has to undergo significant growth, with initial developments taking place within a few years. It may take at least 10 years to envision India as a first-world country, but progress is evident.

[markvogel]

Ha...I flew Air India once and remember laughing at how much food they kept giving us. It was awesome.

[adcxbbk]

I'm very impressed with your in-depth knowledge about the trains that you are traveling in. For example, knowing the full name of the Chennai Central station and that these trains were manufactured in the same city, the change of languages from Tamil to Telugu to Kannada as the train travels.

[dashtoroya]

Fun fact :- before the train named vande bharat. It was known as "train 18", for being completely manufactured in 18 months.
Now vande bharat is going to have a sleeper set ready. With non-ac(aka the one with open windows) launching in few months. And AC sleeper set in july or august next year.

[Fiery_wings]

While the price of ticket is higher than other trains, Vande Bharat is usually a complete sellout in most of its routes, especially the Chair Class. This is because there's an increasing middle class population in India, who prefer faster more comfortable rides. And either way, its way more cheaper than Airfare and at par with AC Busfares.
Although I agree the food in VB needs major improvement, in terms of standardised quality and taste of meals.

[neosmith]

Do realise that all meals are complimentary on Vande Bharat irrespective of which class you’re travelling on. I never received such complementary service on European trains.

[Seegurkee]

very interesting. didn't know india has such modern trains, what an improvement to the older ones!
and the landscapes are incredible!

[Duececoupe]

India is a country that I'd very much love to visit!

[mercedesbenz]

In a democracy like India where nobody is satisfied and feel jealous of other's success, this is a huge achievement.
Even in democracy you can never keep all people happy, but India still tries to do that.

[o_s-]

A good start for modern trains in India, I hope they get more of these.
The crew serving just a banana is hilarious 😂

[gauravkhopkar]

As an Indian, I really appreciate your research about Indian Railways and Vande Bharat Express. Hope to see you covering more Indian trains in the future!

[AlohaKutla]

Indian trains have improved and how. First time I travelled in an Indian train was when I was a kid, trains were not known for punctuality then so it was late by 5hrs and it was short journey of 170km and it took about 5hrs. That same route I have taken countless time as a kid. My parents were poor, so that train was our life line to visit relatives as time was not important but economics of travel was critical. It took us less than 100R (for 3 tickets) for the journey. Train was packed in general compartment but was happy as I got seat right away as I was kid, so someone got up and gave seat to mum and me. I always loved train. I havent travelled by train for almost 2 decades now, but went recently by train and was pleasantly surprised as train was punctual (well late by 43min) but journey was clean, fast (compared to my memory) and on time. We have great expectation from Indian railway and I hope we get faster trains soon.

[hardly.rivai_YT]

Indians should be very proud of their Vande Bharat Express. These locally-built rakes are the fastest trains in the country and will significantly reduce journey time with investments to its infrastructure. The modernisation of Indian Railways is just the beginning... 🚆

Despite this, they need to improve its customer service. I don't know why their breakfast service is multi-fold longer than a conventional service in any long-distance in other countries. 😕

[Suryanarayana-mxmh]

I travelled in the rickety crowded IIIrd Class compartments of M&SM Railway between Vijayawada and Madras during WWII between 1942 and 1945, this train is the very heaven. 93 now.

[Lolwutfordawin]

That meal service is quite hilarious. Looks like a decent higher-speed train, especially for a first domestically produced train!

[murali]

India has improved its infra structure tremendously in the las 10+ years. Please keep the momentum