April 18, 2026 4:04 pm

India’s Fastest Train Vande Bharat Express: Route, Timings, Fare
The Vande Bharat Express, which is also known as Train 18, is India’s high-speed and self-propelled train. Operating on over 50 routes nationwide, it includes routes from New Delhi to Varanasi, Mumbai to Ahmedabad, and Chennai to Mysuru. Fares range from ₹900 to ₹3,355 for CC and EC classes, and new Sleeper versions starting at ₹960.
The Vande Bharat Express is a testament to the indigenous engineering and fast travel across India. Engineered with cutting-edge technology, featuring utmost comfort, it brings long-distance destinations closer with an accelerating speed of 130 to 160 kilometers per hour. If you are planning a trip through the Vande Bharat Express, here is a detailed guide on its operational routes, running timings, and fare structures.
Table of Contents
What is Vande Bharat Express?

The Vande Bharat Express or Train 18 is a semi-high-speed train. It was engineered to replace the conventional locomotive-hauled trains and provide a modern and more efficient train set with a speed of over 180 km per hour.
The train acts as a superior solution for the Indian Railways regarding time-saving travel with high-end facilities. It was designed and built by the ICF Chennai under the “Make in India” initiative in just 18 months.
The Vande Bharat Express was first inaugurated on 15th February, 2019, on the route from Delhi to Varanasi. For the year 2027 to 2028, more train sets are planned with a speed of around 220 km per hour.
What are the Key Features of the Vande Bharat Express?
Here are the key features of the Vande Bharat Express:
1. Speed and Acceleration
The Vande Bharat Express can reach up to 180 km per hour of speed. However, it only runs between 1330 and 160 km per hour due to track capacity. Also, it can reach from 0 to 100 km per hour in 52 seconds.
2. Self-Propelled Vehicle
It is integrated with the self-propelled system that uses a distributed power system for acceleration and deceleration.
3. Modern Features for Comfort
The train facilitates modern passenger features, including comfortable revolving seats, LED lighting, GPS-based passenger systems, and pantry cars.
4. Advanced Safety
The train features modern and advanced safety features like the Kavach anti-collision system, anti-graffiti and bullet-resistant windows, CCTV cameras, and automatic fire alarm and safety systems.
5. Modem Amenities
The passengers can enjoy onboard wifi facility and infotainment, charge their devices, use bio-vacuum toilets, and sliding footsteps.
6. Aero Dynamic Design
The train is engineered with a lightweight, aerodynamically friendly design to increase energy efficiency.
7. Modern Braking System
The train uses a regenerative braking system that converts its kinetic energy into electrical energy, rather than as heat through friction brakes.
What are the Popular Train Routes of Vande Bharat Express?
Here is a table curated for some of the popular Vande Bharat routes and stoppages:
- New Delhi to Varanasi
- New Delhi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
- Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad
- Chennai to Mysuru
- Howrah to New Jalpaiguri
- Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam
- Bengaluru to Hubballi
What are the Timings of the Vande Bharat Express?

Here are the timings of the Vande Bharat Express, covering its departure and arrival, and approximate journey timings:
| Train Route | Departure | Arrival | Journey Time (approx.) |
| 1. New Delhi to Varanasi | 6:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 8 hrs |
| 2. New Delhi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra | 6:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 8 hrs |
| 3. Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad | 6:10 AM | 11:35 AM | 5 hrs 25 min |
| 4. Chennai Central to Mysuru | 5:50 AM | 12:10 PM | 6 hrs |
| 5. Howrah to New Jalpaiguri | 5:30 AM | 12:30 PM | 7 hrs |
| 6. Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam | 5:45 AM | 2:15 PM | 8 hrs 30 min |
| 7. Bengaluru to Hubballi | 6:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 6 hrs |
| 8. Bengaluru to Chennai | 6:00 AM | 12:30 PM | 6 hrs 30 min |
| 9. Secunderabad to Tirupati | 5:15 AM | 11:45 AM | 6 hrs 30 min |
| 10. Mumbai CSMT to Solapur | 4:05 AM | 10:40 AM | 6 hrs 35 min |
| 11. Mumbai CSMT to Sainagar Shirdi | 6:20 AM | 12:10 PM | 5 hrs 50 min |
| 12. New Delhi to Dehradun | 5:50 AM | 11:50 AM | 6 hrs |
| 13. New Delhi to Amritsar | 7:00 AM | 1:30 PM | 6 hrs 30 min |
| 14. Ranchi to Patna | 6:00 AM | 12:30 PM | 6 hrs 30 min |
| 15. Ahmedabad to Jamnagar | 5:30 AM | 11:45 AM | 6 hrs 15 min |
What is the Fare Structure of Vande Bharat Express?

Before planning a journey with the Vande Bharat Express, knowing its fare structure helps you plan a stress-free budget. Below is a table of the train, covering both CC and EC fare structures.
| Train Route | Chair Car Fare (CC) | Executive Class Fare (EC) |
| 1. New Delhi to Varanasi | ₹1,800 to ₹1,900 | ₹3,400 to ₹3,600 |
| 2. New Delhi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra | ₹1,500 to ₹1,700 | ₹2,800 to ₹3,200 |
| 3. Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad | ₹1,300 to ₹1,500 | ₹2,500 to ₹2,800 |
| 4. Chennai Central to Mysuru | ₹1,300 to ₹1,400 | ₹2,400 to ₹2,600 |
| 5. Howrah to New Jalpaiguri | ₹1,500 to ₹1,800 | ₹2,800 to ₹3,200 |
| 6. Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam | ₹1,400 to ₹1,700 | ₹2,600 to ₹3,000 |
| 7. Bengaluru to Hubballi | ₹1,200 to ₹1,400 | ₹2,200 to ₹2,600 |
| 8. Bengaluru to Chennai | ₹1,100 to ₹1,300 | ₹2,200 to ₹2,500 |
| 9. Secunderabad to Tirupati | ₹1,200 to ₹1,400 | ₹2,300 to ₹2,600 |
| 10. Mumbai CSMT to Solapur | ₹1,100 to ₹1,300 | ₹2,200 to ₹2,500 |
| 11. Mumbai CSMT to Sainagar Shirdi | ₹900 to ₹1,200 | ₹1,800 to ₹2,200 |
| 12. New Delhi to Dehradun | ₹1,000 to ₹1,300 | ₹2,000 to ₹2,500 |
| 13. New Delhi to Amritsar | ₹1,200 to ₹1,500 | ₹2,400 to ₹2,800 |
| 14. Ranchi to Patna | ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 | ₹2,000 to ₹2,400 |
| 15. Ahmedabad to Jamnagar | ₹1,100 to ₹1,300 | ₹2,200 to ₹2,500 |
How to Book Vande Bharat Express Tickets?
Booking tickets in the Vande Bharat Express for your journey is a simple and easy process. For booking, you have multiple platforms, including the IRCTC website, the IRCTC Rail Connect App, and third-party platforms such as redRail, MakeMyTrip, and Paytm.
Here are the steps for the government-backed ticket booking platform, whose process is similar to most of the third-party train ticket booking platforms:
- Log in or create an account on the IRCTC or the Rail Connect App.
- After account setup, set passwords and login details.
- Navigate ticket booking for trains
- Enter your boarding station and destination
- Select the Vande Bharat Express
- Enter the book tickets option
- Enter your required passenger details
- Then, select the payment method and pay the fare using UPI, cards, net banking, or e-wallets.
- After this, you can download your confirmed ticket or receive it via SMS or WhatsApp.
Note: Make sure you book tickets before the days or weeks of your journey to avoid any inconveniences.
Conclusion
The Vande Bharat Express is the first step towards a revolutionary age of the Indian Railways. As a high-speed locomotive, it offers time efficiency and high-end facilities. Here is a complete guide on one of the fastest trains of India, Vande Bharat Express, with its prominent routes, timings, and fare
Also Read – Delhi Metro Golden Line: All You Need To Know Before You Go



