Patna is all set to get its “fastest direct rail connectivity” to West Bengal capital Kolkata this month.
Railways is likely to introduce a semi high-speed Vande Bharat Express train between Patna and Howrah in the first or second week of August, even as a final date is yet to be decided. This will be the second Vande Bharat Express for Bihar after successful introduction of the train on Patna-Ranchi route on June 27.
A high-level meeting was held between the East Central Railway (ECR) headquarters and senior railway officials of Danapur section through videoconferencing on Sunday to work out the modalities of successful introduction of the Vande Bharat train on Patna-Howrah route, ECR chief public relations officer Birendra Kumar said.
According to a senior railway official at Danapur, the railways has started preparing the groundwork for running the premier Vande Bharat Express on the Patna-Howrah route. Time schedule and fare of the train are being worked out while tracks are being further strengthened all along Patna-Jhajha-Asansol-Howrah mainline of both ECR and Eastern Railway (ER), he said.
The Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat Express will cover a total distance of 535km in about seven hours if it runs at a normal speed of 90km per hour to 110km per hour. Otherwise the Vande Bharat is fit to run at a maximum speed of 160km per hour, the senior railway official said, adding Danapur division is waiting for the arrival of the rake from Chennai.
Though railways has not finalised the fare, it is likely to be Rs 2,650 per passenger for the AC Executive Class and Rs 1,450 for AC chair car for a single journey, which will also include meals/breakfast.
Also, railways has not yet worked out its actual stoppages so far, but it is likely to be only two stops at Asansol and Jasidih.
