One Vande Bharat and one Amrit Bharat; this state to six new trains in six months

NEW DELHI: During festive seasons, even the approval of a special train can bring great relief to travellers. So, imagine the convenience if a brand-new train service is introduced on a regular basis. Now, what if it’s not just one or two, but six new trains? That’s exactly what’s set to happen — six new trains, including Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat services, are scheduled to hit the tracks within the next six months. And which state in India is receiving this fortune? It’s Bihar.

Kerala has long been demanding an additional Vande Bharat service on the Ernakulam–Bengaluru route. However, Indian Railways continues to postpone the decision citing various reasons. At the same time, it is now preparing to approve six new train services for Bihar, including long-distance connections to major cities like New Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.

Reports suggest that one of the Vande Bharat trains will operate on the Patna–New Delhi route, and indications are that this could be a Vande Bharat sleeper train. During Diwali and Holi festival seasons, a special long-distance Vande Bharat service was run between New Delhi and Patna, which turned out to be a major hit. That success is reportedly a key reason why a regular route is now under consideration. The Railway Board is also considering proposals to further enhance Bihar's connectivity through long-distance services.

Currently, more than ten Vande Bharat trains already pass through Bihar. In addition to those, a new one is now set to be approved. Bihar is governed by the JDU-BJP alliance, a powerful faction within the central government. With state assembly elections scheduled for later this year, there’s speculation that the generous allocation of new trains is influenced by political interests.