Vande Bharat Express cuts down Mumbai-Goa travel time

The fourth semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express began operations this June. The Vande Bharat Express is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship project. A senior railway official informed the train will run from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Madgaon (Goa) station. Except for Friday, this Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat train will be functional for the rest of the days. It will halt at the following stations; CSMT, Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Roha, Khed, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Thivim and Madgaon.

The Tejas Express which runs between CSMT and Madgaon, takes over eight hours and 20 minutes. Similarly, this semi-high-speed train will take almost eight hours to cover 586 kilometres. Vande Bharat Express is Mumbai's fourth semi-high-speed train and the fifth one in Maharashtra.

The train’s first trial took place on May 17 from CSMT platform number seven at 5.30 am and it reached Madgaon station at 12.50 pm. The ticket fare for an AC chair will be around Rs. 1,100- 1,500, though there is no official announcement on the ticket cost. An Executive Class category is likely to cost approximately Rs. 2,000- 2,500.

A railway official said since Goa is a tourist place, the Vande Bharat Express will have good occupancy as this route always receives heavy rush throughout the year.