With the addition of these five, India now has a total of 23 Vande Bharat trains. And with this, Goa, Bihar, and Jharkhand will get Vande Bharat train connectivity for the first time.
The Hatia–Patna Vande Bharat Express is likely to run via Tatisilwai, Mersa, Shanki, Barkakana, Hazaribag, Koderma, and Gaya, saving about one hour and 25 minutes of journey time.
This semi-high-speed train will enhance connectivity between Patna and Ranchi, and will be a boon for tourists, students, and businessmen.
Meanwhile, the Madgaon (Goa)–Mumbai Vande Bharat Express will run between Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Goa’s Madgaon station.
The train will operate six days a week except Friday, and it will cover the journey in about 7.5 hours, saving about one hour for the passengers.
The blue and white trains will “provide a world-class experience to passengers and provide a boost to tourism,” notes an official document by the Press Information Bureau.