Festive Bonanza: Odisha To Get Its Second Vande Bharat Express On Sept 24

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually flag off a record 9 new Vande Bharat Express trains, including the second for Odisha between Puri and Rourkela, on September 24.

“On the eve of the festive season, the second Vande Bharat Express for Odisha will be introduced to run between Puri-Rourkela-Puri. Prime Minister will virtually inaugurate the Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express on September 24 along with some more Vande Bharat Express trains across the country,” the South Eastern Railway said in a release.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to preside over the launch, either in Odisha or Rajasthan.

While eight of the nine Vande Bharat trains will maintain the classic blue and white colour combination, the ninth one introduces a striking orange and white design, and potentially chug along the Kasaragod-Trivandrum route.

“Vande Bharat is India’s first indigenous Semi High Speed train and it aims to provide a totally new travel experience to the passengers. Speed, safety and service are the hallmarks of this train. The Vande Bharat Express offers most comfortable journey with superior world —class features. Connecting some major cities of Odisha – Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Sambalpur, this train will greatly benefit the pilgrims, traders, students and tourists with a reduced travel time between Puri and Rourkela,” it further said.

20836/20835 Puri-Rourkela-Puri Vande Bharat Express will run six days a week, except on Saturdays, catering to the rush between the coastal and western Odisha regions. It will depart Puri railway station at 5 am and reach Rourkela at 12.45 pm. In the return direction, the semi-high-speed train will leave Rourkela at 2.10 pm and will arrive in Puri at 9.40 pm.

The Vande Bharat, covering 505 km distance at an average speed of 63.33 kmph-65.16 kmph, will halt at Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul, Kerejanga, Sambalpur city and Jharsuguda. Except for Bhubaneswar, where the train will halt for five minutes, the stoppage is for two minutes at other stations. It will cover the distance of 505 km in 7 hrs and 30 minutes from Puri-Rourkela and 7 hours and 45 minutes on the down line i.e. Rourkela to Puri.

The first Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah was flagged off on May 18.