Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat train cancelled due to Odisha triple train crash

The Madgaon–CSMT Vande Bharat Express train which was to be flagged off on Saturday and planned with much fanfare, was cancelled, owing to the horrific triple train crash in Odisha on Friday. 

The Ministry of Railways has postponed the inaugural run of the train indefintely.

Indian Railways had planned a grand ceremony for the Vande Bharat Express train to depart from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw claimed that all states would be covered by Vande Bharat trains. However, following the cancellation, there is no fixed date on when the fourth Vande Bharat train will be scheduled to take-off.

This Vande Bharat was supposed to be the first 8-car train that was planned to run six days a week with halts at CSMT, Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Khed, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Thivim and Madgaon stations in seven hours and 50 minutes.

A senior railway official from the Ministry said, "There is no clarity on whether there will be another grand flag off of this Vande Bharat train or it will depart from the CSMT without it. However the grand flag-off ceremony of Vande Bharat Express train from Mumbai to Goa has been cancelled now."

A grand function with the departure was planned at 10.45am, on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to be present at the event. Speeches from Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw were also scheduled along with the display of how this route "would have benefitted" people travelling on Mumbai-Goa route.

The ministry had carried out last-moment trial runs and inspected the mechanical and electrical workings of this train at Madgaon station.