The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail will link Bhuj in Gujarat’s Kutch district with Ahmedabad, one of the state’s major cities, covering the 360-kilometer distance in just under six hours.
In a significant move, Indian Railways has renamed the much-anticipated Vande Metro as the “Namo Bharat Rapid Rail,” just hours before its official inauguration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch the country’s first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service in Gujarat today, ahead of his birthday.
The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail will link Bhuj in Gujarat’s Kutch district with Ahmedabad, covering a distance of 360 kilometers in under six hours. This high-speed rail, capable of reaching speeds up to 110 kilometers per hour, will stop at key stations including Anjar, Gandhidham, Bhachau, Samakhiali, Halvad, Dhrangadhra, Viramgam, Chandlodiya, Sabarmati, and Kalupur in Ahmedabad.
Operating six days a week, the service will be suspended on Saturdays for Bhuj departures and on Sundays for Ahmedabad departures. The train will depart from Bhuj at 5:05 am and arrive in Ahmedabad by 10:50 am. The return trip will leave Ahmedabad at 5:30 pm, reaching Bhuj by 11:20 pm.
With the capacity to accommodate 2,058 standing passengers and 1,150 seated passengers, the train features cushioned seating, full air-conditioning, automatic sliding doors, and engines on both ends. Unlike the Vande Bharat Express, this service incorporates elements commonly found in suburban metro systems.
Fares start at ₹ 30, inclusive of GST, with a full one-way trip from Bhuj to Ahmedabad priced around ₹ 430, excluding GST. Season tickets will be available for regular commuters, offering discounts of ₹ 7, ₹ 15, and ₹ 20 per journey for weekly, fortnightly, and monthly passes, respectively.
