Tatanagar-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express: Jharkhand is going to get another big boost in railway connectivity with the launch of a new Vande Bharat Express between Tatanagar and Varanasi in the near future. All preparations are underway to begin the high-speed train service by July 2025.
Once running, the train will cut the journey time for the 600-kilometer route to only a few hours, providing a quicker and more comfortable journey for passengers, according to a Live Hindustan report.
As part of the preparation, Tatanagar Railway Station's Washing Line No. 3 has been equipped with high-tension power supply facilities. This will be utilized for cleaning and maintenance work of Vande Bharat train coaches. Also, new galvanized iron pipes (GI pipes) are being fitted to aid maintenance work.
Even though railway authorities have not officially announced the new route, sources indicate that the Railway Board is preparing to introduce a sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train between Tatanagar and Varanasi by September 2024. In fact, high-tension cables were already fitted on Washing Line No. 1 in August 2024 for this purpose.
Now, Vande Bharat trains from Tatanagar run to Patna (Bihar) and Berhampur (Odisha), whereas the Ranchi–Howrah (since September 2023) and Rourkela–Howrah (from September 2024) Vande Bharat trains go through Tatanagar six days a week. The new route to Varanasi will also benefit Bihar and Uttar Pradesh passengers, which is even more so as there's no daily train presently from Tatanagar to Varanasi.
In another development, the railways have decided to construct a new sick line (maintenance track) at the Loco Colony area in Tatanagar. A survey for the same project was undertaken in June 2024. The Chakradharpur Division has already forwarded the proposal to the South Eastern Railway Zone. On getting the go-ahead, the construction will commence immediately.
Because the number of Vande Bharat trains and their maintenance are on the rise, the current facilities are under pressure, and this is also impacting the maintenance of other trains. Previously, there were proposals to establish a maintenance center at Kudada but were shelved due to its remoteness from the station. Now, the target is to build a complex at Tatanagar that is capable of taking care of two Vande Bharat trains for simultaneous repair and washing.