The semi-high speed train is scheduled to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15.Train 18 has the capacity to ferry 1128 passengers in 16 bogies with the first two bogies being first-class, having a capacity of 52 seats each. According to the plan, Train 18 is set to first commence between Delhi and Varanasi, with the hopes of a December 25 inauguration. As of the tentative plans right now, the train will leave Delhi at 6:00 a.m and arrive at Varanasi at 2:00 p.m. The return journey would commence at 2:30 p.m with the train arriving in Delhi at 10:30 p.m. The speedy turn-around time is attributed to the driver bogies at both ends of the train. Traditional trains require the engine to detach at one end and make a trip around the track at the other end before making the return journey, often causing major delays. While Train 18 is going to be operating at 160kmph speeds, 30kmph faster than the Shatabdi, its real achievements lie in all the savings. The train features regenerative breaks which should result in up to 30 percent energy savings. It will also have a smaller carbon footprint than the current Shatabdi Express. Train 18 will also be a wholly air-conditioned train, offering amenities such as onboard infotainment and Wi-Fi. Budget Indian Travelers here are the details of fares of Train 18.

Vande Bharat Express or Train 18’s air conditioned chair car ticket would cost Rs 1,850 and the executive class fare will be Rs 3,520 for a Delhi to Varanasi trip, including the catering service charges, officials told PTI Monday. On its return journey, the chair car ticket will cost Rs 1,795 and the executive car ticket will be priced at Rs 3,470, they said.

While the chair car fares are 1.5 times the price of Shatabdi trains running the same distance, the executive class fares are 1.4 times of first class air conditioned seating in the premium train, the official sources said.

The semi-high speed train is scheduled to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15.

The train has two classes of tickets — executive class and chair car — and will have differently priced meals, the sources said.

While passengers travelling from New Delhi to Varanasi in the executive class will be charged Rs 399 for morning tea, breakfast and lunch, travellers in the chair car will need to pay Rs 344 for the same.

Those travelling from New Delhi to Kanpur and Prayagraj will have to pay Rs 155 and Rs 122 for executive class and chair car, respectively.

From Varanasi to New Delhi, the passengers will be charged Rs 349 and Rs 288 in the executive class and chair, respectively.