Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express at Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station in Bengaluru.
This is the fifth Vande Bharat Express train in the country and the first such train in South India.
"It will enhance connectivity between the industrial hub of Chennai and the Tech and Startup hub of Bengaluru and the famous tourist city of Mysuru," the PMO said.
PM Modi also flagged Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan Train at KSR railway station in Bengaluru.
Karnataka is the first state to take up this train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme in which the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways are working together to send pilgrims from Karnataka to Kashi.
PM Modi was welcomed by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Minister Pralhad Joshi and other dignitaries as well as officials.
Know more about Mysuru-Chennai Vande Bharat Express
The train is the first semi-high speed train in the South and fifth in the country. The train can travel at a speed of 160 km per hour. If run in full capacity, the train can touch Chennai from Bengaluru in just three hours. It has intelligent braking system enabling better acceleration and deceleration. All the coaches are equipped with automatic doors, GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, on-board hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purpose, and comfortable seats. The executive class has rotating chairs, the authorities said.It is much more than the conventional Shatabdi rake of equal number of coaches.
