Bengaluru, December 18
The Railways is manufacturing Vande Metro train which will replace those designed in 1950s and 60s, Railways and Communication Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday.
He also said that the first indigenously designed and built hydrogen train would roll out in December 2023.
“We are designing and the design should be out by anywhere by May or June—We are designing a worldclass Vande Metro which will be a great leap forward,” Vaishnaw told reporters during an interaction.
“These Vande Metro train will be manufactured in such large numbers that across the country, the trains which were of 1950s and 1960s designs will all be replaced,” he added.
Stressing that these Vande Metro will take care of middle-class and the poor, the Union Minister said the focus is not on the high-end customer.
“Rich people can always take care of themselves. The Central government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi focuses on middle and lower classes people who are not able to afford,” he underlined.
The Prime Minister wants railways to make very big transformative change in every Indian’s life, Vaishnaw said.
To a question on the hydrogen-based trains, the Minister said like Vande Bharat, the Indian engineers are designing it.
“The design process is already going on and we should be able to roll out the first hydrogen train in the country by December 2023,” he added.
Vaishnaw ruled out privatisation of railways saying, “Railways is a strategic sector and it will remain with the government.” The Union Minister said the Railways is working on Vande Bharat-3 design, which will also have sleeper class. These trains would also be used for long journey.
