Trial run of Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express begins

Bhubaneswar: The trial run of Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express commenced, this morning.

As per schedule, the high-speed train left Howrah at 6.10 am and is slated to reach Puri at 12.35 pm.

In return direction, the train will leave Puri at 1.50 pm and reach Howrah at 8.30 pm.

The stoppages for the trial run are Kharagpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Khurda between Howrah and Puri with halt of two minutes at the stations.

The second trial run of the train will be held on April 30 from Howrah to Bhadrak. Likewise, the third trial run will be decided on May 1, reports said.

Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express may start operating from next month, according to sources.

Once the trial runs are successfully completed, the Vande Bharat Express will operate between Howrah and Puri, with fewer stops in between.

Sources suggest that a specific date in May will be set for the train’s inaugural run, but East Coast Railway (ECOR) officials were yet to confirm the train’s route, fares, and specific launch date.