New Delhi to Varanasi
The journey between the national capital and the spiritual heart of India was traditionally an overnight affair, with most trains taking 10 to 12 hours. The Vande Bharat Express completes this nearly 760-kilometre stretch in just eight hours. A traveller
can now depart from New Delhi at 6:00 AM and arrive in Varanasi by 2:00 PM, conduct their work or visit temples, and catch the return train later the same day. This has fundamentally changed how people approach business and pilgrimage trips on this iconic route.
New Delhi to Katra
For pilgrims heading to the Vaishno Devi shrine, the journey to Katra from New Delhi often meant a long 12-hour-plus trip. The Vande Bharat Express has slashed this travel time to just eight hours, covering a distance of 655 kilometres. Passengers can leave New Delhi early in the morning and reach Katra by the afternoon, which was previously not feasible in a single day of travel without it being exhausting. This significant time saving of about four hours allows for a much more comfortable and convenient pilgrimage.
Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam
Connecting the two major Telugu cities, this route spans approximately 700 kilometres and was a classic overnight journey, typically taking over 12 hours. The Vande Bharat Express covers this distance in about eight and a half hours. A morning departure from Visakhapatnam at 5:45 AM gets passengers to Secunderabad by 2:15 PM. The return journey leaves Secunderabad in the afternoon, making a same-day return trip possible for those on a tight schedule, a feat unimaginable with older train services.
Howrah to New Jalpaiguri
As the gateway to Darjeeling and Sikkim, New Jalpaiguri is a crucial station. Previously, the fastest trains from Kolkata's Howrah station took over 10 hours, often necessitating an overnight journey. The Vande Bharat makes the trip in around 7.5 hours. With a 5:55 AM departure from Howrah, passengers can find themselves in New Jalpaiguri by early afternoon, ready to start their Himalayan adventure without losing a night to travel.
Rani Kamalapati (Bhopal) to Hazrat Nizamuddin (Delhi)
Covering over 700 kilometres, the journey between Bhopal and Delhi traditionally hovered around the 10-to-11-hour mark, pushing many travellers into overnight options. The Vande Bharat Express on this route is one of the fastest, completing the journey in approximately seven and a half hours. A morning departure from Rani Kamalapati station at 5:40 AM ensures arrival in Delhi by 1:16 PM, effectively giving travellers half a day for their activities.
Nagpur to Bilaspur
The travel time between Nagpur and Bilaspur, a distance of over 400 kilometres, used to be around seven hours by the fastest available trains. The Vande Bharat service has reduced this to about five and a half hours. While not a traditional overnight route for all, the time saved makes a day trip for business or personal matters much more practical. One can leave Nagpur after lunch and arrive in Bilaspur in the evening, finish their work the next morning, and return without needing multiple nights away.
Mumbai to Ahmedabad
While this popular route already had fast day-train options like the Shatabdi Express, the Vande Bharat has further trimmed the journey time. It covers the roughly 500-kilometre distance in about five and a half hours, compared to the six to eight hours taken by other express trains. This efficiency makes it even easier to plan a trip where you can leave in the morning, complete your work in the other city, and return by the last train of the evening, thereby saving on a hotel stay.
Chennai to Mysuru
Spanning nearly 500 kilometres via Bengaluru, the journey from Chennai to the city of palaces, Mysuru, was a long day's travel. The Vande Bharat Express completes this trip in about six and a half hours. It allows someone to leave Chennai early in the morning and reach Mysuru with enough time to explore or attend meetings before considering a return journey. Its speed and efficiency have made it a hit, turning a previously cumbersome trip into a comfortable and manageable day-long excursion if needed.
