IRCTC has apprised the Railway Board that with the introduction of Vande Bharat Express, the operation of Tejas Express on the same route will be adversely affected.
IRCTC has expressed concern over the similar timing of India’s fastest Vande Bharat Express train and Tejas. According to PTI sources, IRCTC had said in two letters in August and September that the Vande Bharat train would “defeat” the target of introducing Tejas Express, the premium corporate train of the Railways.
According to the information, IRCTC has conveyed to the Railway Board that with the introduction of Vande Bharat Express, the operation of Tejas Express on the same route will be adversely affected. Fearing a possible loss in the number of passengers, IRCTC has told the Railways that the same timing will affect both the fare and services of the train.
While Tejas Express departs from Ahmedabad at 6:40 am and reaches Mumbai at 1:05 am , in the other direction it departs from Mumbai Central at 3:45 am and reaches Ahmedabad at 10:10 am. As per the proposed timings, the new Vande Bharat Express will depart from Ahmedabad at 7:25 am and reach Mumbai at 1:30 pm. In the other direction, it will depart Mumbai Central at 2:40 PM and reach Ahmedabad at 9:05 PM.
The difference between the two trains will be 45 minutes to 75 minutes in both the directions and the run time of Vande Bharat Express will also be less as it takes around 6.25 to 6.50 hours from both the sides as compared to Tejas Express, thus affecting more .
IRCTC told the Railway Board that Vande Bharat will be run on this route for the first time, which may affect the timing and travel of Tejas. Said that it has already got spoiled due to operation of Rajdhani Tejas rake.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a rail subsidiary, operates two private trains of Indian Railways – Lucknow – New Delhi Tejas Express, which was inaugurated on 4 October 2019 and Ahmedabad – Mumbai Tejas Express, Which was inaugurated on 17 January 2020.
