Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the country’s first rapid train, ‘Namo Bharat,’ on Friday.
As of Saturday, October 21st, the swift and affordable train is open to all citizens for travel. The inaugural route covers the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, operating from 6 am to 11 pm, departing every 15 minutes.
Route and Stations
Initially, ‘Namo Bharat’ will run on the 17 km priority route from Sahibabad to Duhai, with five stations: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and Duhai-Depot.
This section is part of the broader 82 km Delhi-Meerut corridor, which will feature around 25 stations, connecting Delhi to Meerut in less than an hour.
Fares
The train offers various coach options with fares determined by amenities and travel distance.
For the premium coach, which seats 62 passengers and includes full rest facilities, fares range from Rs 40 to Rs 100. Standard coach fares range from Rs 20 to Rs 50.
Special Provisions
Children under 90 cm in height can travel free on ‘Namo Bharat,’ and passengers are allowed to carry up to 25 kg of luggage.
Tickets are available for purchase at counters and vending machines, similar to metro systems.
Design Inspired by Bullet Trains
The design of ‘Namo Bharat’ resembles that of a bullet train, boasting six coaches accommodating approximately 1,700 passengers.
There’s a designated women’s coach and reserved seating for women and disabled passengers/senior citizens in each coach.
Standard coaches have 72 seats, while premium coaches offer 62 seats, with additional passenger-centric features like reclining seats, coat hooks, magazine holders,
and footrests. The first coach from Delhi to Meerut and the last coach from Meerut to Delhi are both premium coaches.
