The inaugural trial run of the highly anticipated Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express took place on Monday. The trial run, dedicated to operational and safety checks, saw the train depart from Patna Junction railway station at 06:55 am and arrival at its destination in Ranchi at 01:00 pm. The return journey is scheduled to commence from Ranchi at 02:20 pm and reach Patna Junction at 08:25 pm, according to news agency PTI.
During this trial run, no general passengers were permitted on board, emphasizing the focus on evaluating the train's performance rather than catering to public transport needs.
The Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express, which is set to be the first semi-high-speed train serving Bihar and Jharkhand, is scheduled to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month, as reported by the Financial Express. A visual of the train at Patna Junction was shared by news agency ANI via Twitter.
IN PICS | Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express Trial Run Begins Today
Notably, the train will cross through a series of tunnels and railway bridges between Sidhwar in Ramgarh and Sanki in Ranchi. Among these is a 1.7-kilometre-long tunnel, the longest in the stretch measuring 27 kilometres, with three additional tunnels spanning around 600 meters each, according to PTI.
Birendra Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Central Railway (ECR) zone in Hajipur, highlighted the safety precautions associated with the trial run. He urged the general public to maintain a safe distance from the railway track and prevent cattle from encroaching upon it.
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Once operational, the Patna-Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat Express will make stops at Jehanabad, Gaya, Barakakana, Koderma, Hazaribagh Town, and Mesra in both directions.