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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the launch of Vande Bharat sleeper trains will take place once the second rake is ready for regular service. One train has already completed necessary trials and testing and is stationed at the Shakur Basti Coaching Depot in Delhi.
Speaking to the media, Vaishnaw said that the second train is currently under production and is likely to be ready by October 15 this year. "Both the trains will be launched together," he said and explained that the second rake is essential to ensure uninterrupted service, adding, “That’s why we are waiting for a second rake. Once we get it, we will decide [on routes] route and start operations."
Some reports suggest that the first Vande Bharat sleeper train could start operations on the New Delhi-Patna route.
During the briefing, held alongside Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, Vaishnaw reviewed ongoing and upcoming railway projects in Punjab. Among these is a proposed 18-kilometre Rajpura–Mohali rail line, which will connect the two towns directly via the shortest route along the Ambala-Amritsar main line. This new route is expected to reduce travel by approximately 66 km, ease congestion on the Rajpura-Ambala corridor, and shorten the Ambala-Morinda link.
In addition to infrastructure updates, the railway minister proposed a new Vande Bharat service between New Delhi and Firozpur Cantonment. The proposed route would pass through Faridkot, Bhatinda (W), Dhuri, Patiala, Ambala Cantonment, Kurukshetra and Panipat, covering a total distance of 486 kilometres in close to 7 hours. "I will request the Prime Minister to approve the Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat train," Vaishnaw said.
During the interaction, Vaishnaw announced that 30 railway stations in the region are being modernised under the Amrit Bharat Station Redevelopment Scheme. On operational performance, the minister noted improvements in train punctuality, reporting that 29 rail divisions -- including Malda, Mysore, Sialdah, Nagpur, and Trivandrum -- have reached 90% on-time performance.
Speaking to the media, Vaishnaw said that the second train is currently under production and is likely to be ready by October 15 this year. "Both the trains will be launched together," he said and explained that the second rake is essential to ensure uninterrupted service, adding, “That’s why we are waiting for a second rake. Once we get it, we will decide [on routes] route and start operations."
Some reports suggest that the first Vande Bharat sleeper train could start operations on the New Delhi-Patna route.
पंजाब
के लिए… ????️ नई रेल लाइन ???? नई वंदे भारत एक्सप्रेस pic.twitter.com/R2RosoPzjK
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) September 23, 2025
During the briefing, held alongside Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, Vaishnaw reviewed ongoing and upcoming railway projects in Punjab. Among these is a proposed 18-kilometre Rajpura–Mohali rail line, which will connect the two towns directly via the shortest route along the Ambala-Amritsar main line. This new route is expected to reduce travel by approximately 66 km, ease congestion on the Rajpura-Ambala corridor, and shorten the Ambala-Morinda link.
In addition to infrastructure updates, the railway minister proposed a new Vande Bharat service between New Delhi and Firozpur Cantonment. The proposed route would pass through Faridkot, Bhatinda (W), Dhuri, Patiala, Ambala Cantonment, Kurukshetra and Panipat, covering a total distance of 486 kilometres in close to 7 hours. "I will request the Prime Minister to approve the Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat train," Vaishnaw said.
During the interaction, Vaishnaw announced that 30 railway stations in the region are being modernised under the Amrit Bharat Station Redevelopment Scheme. On operational performance, the minister noted improvements in train punctuality, reporting that 29 rail divisions -- including Malda, Mysore, Sialdah, Nagpur, and Trivandrum -- have reached 90% on-time performance.
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