Even after two successful trial runs, the Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat Express is still awaiting a final nod from the Railway Board to make its inaugural commercial run. The premier train completed its first trial run on August 5 and second on August 12. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to flag off the commercial run of the train for which the date is yet to be finalised.
According to the East Central Railways (ECR) chief public relations officer Birendra Kumar, the railways has prepared its ground work to introduce the semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express on the Patna-Howrah route, a distance of about 535km. “During the trial run, the train had covered the distance in about 6 hours 30 minutes from Patna to Howrah,” he said.
The Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat will be the second train for Bihar after the introduction of the Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat on June 27. “The time schedule and fare of the train have been worked out but they are waiting for the final approval from the Board,” sources said.
A Danapur senior official said the Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat is likely to be the fastest direct rail connectivity between the two capitals of Bihar and West Bengal.