Vande Bharat Trains:
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The Vande Bharat train is an indigenously designed and manufactured semi high speed, self-propelled train that is endorsed as the next major leap for the Indian Railways.
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The trains, that were called Train 18 during the development phase, operate without a locomotive and are based on a propulsion system called distributed traction power technology.
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The Vande Bharat coaches include on-board WiFi entertainment, GPS-based passenger information system, CCTVs, automatic doors, rotating chairs and bio-vacuum toilets.
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The first train was manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, in 18 months as part of the ‘Make in India’ programme, with a cost of about ₹100 crores.
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The train has a passenger-carrying capacity of more than 1,100 people.
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Currently, two Vande Bharat Expresses are operational; one between New Delhi and Varanasi and the other from New Delhi to Katra.
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Why in News? In Budget 2022, government has announced development of 400 Vande Bharat Trains.