Train 18 named Vande Bharat Express: Goyal

New Delhi: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said that the indigenously built Train 18 will be called Vande Bharat Express and will run between New Delhi and Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Goyal said, “We wanted it (Train 18) to have a special identity that is connected to India and is venerated by 125 crore Indians. We crowdsourced the name suggestions, and I thank them all. “We chose one name - Vande Bharat Express” he said.

He said that Train 18 was designed in India, and built by Indian engineers at the Integrated Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai in a span of 18 months. “It shall run between New Delhi and Varanasi with stoppages at Kanpur and Allahabad (now renamed Prayagraj).

It is an example that it’s possible to make world class trains under the Make in India initiative,” the Minister said. He added that the railways has approached the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) seeking time for the launch of Tain 18 by the Prime Minister, which is likely in February, after the Budget. Goyal also said that it is India’s first indigenous, semi-high speed train. (IANS)

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