Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat train makes successful trial run

PATNA: Amidst huge excitements and applause from passengers waiting for other trains, Vande Bharat Express left Patna Junction at 6.55am for its trial run to Ranchi via Gaya Junction on Monday.
At least five armed security personnel from Patna RPF escorted the train up to its jurisdiction at Gaya from where a separate RPF team escorted it to Ranchi.
According to Danapur RPF senior commandant Prakash Kumar Panda, additional RPF personnel were deployed at vulnerable places all along Parsa Bazar-Punpun-Taregna route to check any mischief. RPF special team would continue an awareness drive among villagers living near the tracks on the Patna-Gaya route to keep themselves away when the semi-high-speed train would make a commercial operation soon, he said.
According to ECR chief public relations officer Birendra Kumar, the trial run was successful in the sense that it reached Ranchi safely within time limit around 1pm through the new rail route. On its return, it also started on time from Ranchi and continued its journey at the permissible speed of 160km per hour, he said, adding the trial run was made with the eight coaches under strict supervision of senior railway traffic inspectors who recorded its minute-to-minute run.
According to sources, railways has worked out possible fare for passengers travelling by Vande Bharat Express as per its tariff slab based on per kilometre distance. Railways would make available fare and scheduled stoppage of the train on the new route, sources said, adding IRCTC and passenger reservation system (PRS) counters would start booking tickets for Vande Bharat Express soon.