Vande Bharat Express aka Train 18 begins first commercial run

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Vande Bharat Express aka Train 18 begins first commercial run
Vande Bharat Express aka Train 18 begins first commercial run

New Delhi : One day after it broke down on its way to Delhi from Varanasi, Vande Bharat Express aka Train 18, India's first semi-high speed train, started its commercial run on Sunday.

"Vande Bharat Express left Delhi for Varanasi today morning on its first commercial run. Tickets sold out for the next two weeks already. Get yours today!" tweeted Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.

In a detailed press note, he revealed reasons why the train had stopped near Tundla station while returning to the national capital.

"There was an issue of communication between the last basic unit of 4 coaches and the rest of the train probably due to some external hit. Thereafter, safety features in the train applied brakes. The train was checked for faults and moved to Delhi," the press release mentioned.

Train 18, which was recently rechristened Vande Bharat Express, had left Varanasi Junction for Delhi at 10:30 pm Friday, nearly 45 minutes after reaching the holy city on its inaugural journey.

The first breakdown occurred around 15 km from Tundla junction in Uttar Pradesh early morning.

"It was a case of skidding wheels after the train ran over cattle," Northern Railway CPRO Deepak Kumar had said in the morning.

Meanwhile, a war of words broke between Congress and BJP.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi had tweeted, "Modi ji, I think Make in India needs a serious rethink. Most people feel it has failed. I assure you we in the Congress are thinking very deeply about how it will be done." 

In a quick response, Goyal tweeted - "Such a shame that you choose to attack the hard work and ingenuity of Indian engineers, technicians and labourers. It is THIS mindset which needs a reset. 'Make In India' is a success and a part of crores of Indian lives.