The fastest train that India has ever made has reportedly broken down, just a day after it was officially launched. According to local news media, the semi high-speed train was apparently on its return trip from the northern city of Varanasi to New Delhi when operators had to make an emergency stop. The new Vande Bharat Express was inaugurated by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi just a day before the breakdown occurred.
According to a statement released by the train's operators, the train was put to a complete stop near Chamrola Station, just 120 miles away from the capital. The country's Railway Ministry explained that there was apparently a communication issue between the train's coaches, which was prompted by an unexplained "external hit."
The train's driver decided to immediately apply the brakes to prevent any further damage. Crew members then disembarked to check for any major faults. The train was then slowly moved to the Delhi station for further inspection. The country's Railways Ministry has yet to elaborate on the specifics of the problem and the reasons why they had to initiate an emergency stop.
The new Vande Bharat Express is India's latest production locomotive under Modi's ambitious "Make in India" initiative. The movement under the administration aims to make India a global manufacturing hub for different products, including high-speed railway systems.
The semi high-speed train was also a part of an effort to significantly cut the travel times from places like New Delhi to Varanasi. Current trains in use can cover the 467-mile distance in more than 11 hours. Meanwhile, the new Vande Bharat Express could make the same trip in less than eight hours.
The train is also capable of carrying more passengers, with its 1,128 seating capacity. The Vande Bharat Express has a top speed of around 100mph, making it significantly faster than any other train that is currently operating in India. According to the country's Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, tickets for the train have already been sold out for the next two weeks.
During its inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his pride in their latest achievement. He explained that it has taken them almost five years to transform the Indian railways into what it is today. The prime minister also cited that the Vande Bharat Express was a prime example of what is yet to come and how his initiative is making progress. Since the breakdown, the prime minister has not yet made an official statement.
