Odisha to Get Its 4th Vande Bharat Express, Trial Run Scheduled

Bhubaneswar: The Indian Railways is set to launch a Vande Bharat Express between Berhampur in Odisha and Tatanagar in Jharkhand. According to reports, the South Eastern Railway has scheduled a trial run on September 8.

During the trial, the Vande Bharat Express will complete the Tatanagar to Berhampur journey in 9 hours and 10 minutes, while the return trip will take 8 hours and 55 minutes. The official launch of the train is expected on September 15, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to flag it off. This will be India’s 63rd Vande Bharat Express.

The proposed schedule suggests that the train will depart from Tatanagar at 5:20 am, reaching Berhampur at 2:30 pm. The return journey from Berhampur will start at 3:00 pm, arriving in Tatanagar by 11:55 pm. Covering a distance of 586 km in approximately 8 hours, the train will halt at stations like Chaibasa, Dangoaposi, Banspani, Kendujhargarh, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road and Balugaon.

This train will be Odisha’s fourth Vande Bharat service. Currently, the state operates three Vande Bharat Express trains: Puri-Howrah, Puri-Rourkela, and Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam routes.

Meanwhile, Indian Railways has announced plans to introduce Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, aimed at long-distance travellers. These sleeper services are designed to offer a luxurious travel experience, comparable to European standards.