Guwahati: Creating history in railway communication in North East, PM Modi, on May 29, 2023, virtually flagged off the first ever Vande Bharat Express from Assam. The high-speed train will run between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. The Vande Bharat will cut the journey time between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri by one and a half hours, NF railway said. The Maiden journey of the first Vande Bharat Express train from Assam was virtually flagged off from Guwahati by PM Modi in the presence of other dignitaries. The Prime Minister also dedicated 182 Km of newly electrified sections apart from inaugurating a newly constructed DEMU/MEMU shed at Lumding in Assam. The addition of the high-speed Vande Bharat Express in the NF Railway will create history in the railway communication of Assam and the entire North East region, NF railway says.
With the arrival of the State of the art Vande Bharat Express in Assam, people of North East, Assam in particular, will be able to experience travelling by rail with speed and comfort. As the Semi high-Speed train comprises all the latest amenities, the difference can be well experienced by the people of the North East during travel.
This train will pass through Kamrup Metropolitan, Kamrup Rural, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Kokrajhar districts of Assam and Alipurduar, New Coochbehar and Jalpaiguri districts of North Bengal. People of this vast area will be able to reap the benefit of modern rail travel comfortably. The existing rail travel time by the speediest train in the New Jalpaiguri – Guwahati section will be reduced by about an hour. People from various fraternities will get the benefit. Sectors like trade, tourism and travel of this region will benefit immensely.
The inaugural run of 02228 (Guwahati – New Jalpaiguri) Vande Bharat Express will commence from Guwahati at 12:00 hours on May 29, 2023, and will reach New Jalpaiguri at 18:00 hours. During its inaugural run, the train will have stoppages at Kamakhya, Rangiya Jn., Nalbari, Bijni, New Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Fakiragram Jn., New Alipurduar, New Cooch Behar and Dhupguri.
Regular services of train no. 22228/22227 (Guwahati – New Jalpaiguri – Guwahati) Vande Bharat Express will commence from May 31, 2023 onwards. The train will operate six days a week except Tuesday. Train no. 22227 (New Jalpaiguri – Guwahati) Vande Bharat Express will depart from New Jalpaiguri at 06:10 hours from May 31, 2023, to reach Guwahati at 11:40 hours. In the return direction, Train no. 22228 (Guwahati – New Jalpaiguri) Vande Bharat Express will depart from Guwahati at 16:30 hours from May 31, 2023, to reach New Jalpaiguri at 22:00 hours. During its both ways journey, the train will have stoppages at Kamakhya, New Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, New Alipurduar and New Cooch Behar stations. In its one-way journey, the Vande Bharat Express will cover a distance of 411 km in 05 hours and 30 minutes. The composition of the train will be of 08 coaches with a seating capacity of 530. There will be one Executive Class, five Chair Cars and two Driver Trail Coaches.
PM Modi also dedicated the 91.03 km long New Bongaigaon – Dudhnoi-Mendipathar newly electrified section. With the electrification of this section, freight and passenger-carrying trains with electric traction can now enter Meghalaya from any part of our country. The Guwahati – Chaparmukh 91 km newly electrified section is also dedicated by the Prime Minister to the nation. Falling on the Rajdhani route, electrification of this section will provide pollution-free transportation, higher speed of trains, reduced running time of trains and reduced cost of train operation.
A new DEMU/MEMU shed that has been constructed recently at Lumding was also inaugurated by the Prime Minister. Lumding is the gateway to the hilly North Eastern Indian States like Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and parts of Assam. This new facility will be helpful for maintaining DEMU rakes operating in this region, leading to better operational feasibility and passenger amenity.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that today is a huge day for the connectivity of the North East as three development works are being accomplished together. Firstly, the Prime Minister elaborated, North East is getting its first Vande Bharat Express today where this is the third Vande Bharat Express which connects West Bengal. Secondly, approximately 425 kilometres of railway tracks in Assam and Meghalaya have been electrified. And, thirdly, a new DEMU/MEMU shed has been inaugurated in Lumding in Assam. The Prime Minister congratulated the citizens of the entire North East along with Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal on this momentous occasion.
The Prime Minister said that the Guwahati -New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat train will strengthen the centuries-old ties between Assam and West Bengal. This will increase ease of travel and provide huge benefits to students and will increase job opportunities arising out of tourism and business. He said that this Vande Bharat will provide connectivity to Maa Kamakhya Temple, Kaziranga, Manas National Park, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Furthermore, the Prime Minister pointed out that it will enhance travel and tourism in Shillong, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, Tawang and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh.
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