The 'Vande Bharat' train from Mysuru to Chennai via Bangalore would be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The train is the first semi-high speed train in the South and fifth in the country.
Already, there are many trains between Bangalore and Chennai: Shatabdi Express, Brindavan Express, Mass Double-Decker, Guwahati Express, Lalbagh Express, Chennai Express, Kaveri Express, and Chennai Mail, but 'Vande Bharat' is unique given its speed and facilities, according to railway officials.
They said the train would help cut travel time and give a new travel experience.
"The train can travel at a speed of 160 km per hour. If run in full capacity, the train can touch Chennai from Bangalore in just three hours," a railway official told PTI.
According to the officials, Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, a production unit of the railways, developed the train which has an intelligent braking system enabling better acceleration and deceleration. All the coaches are equipped with automatic doors, GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, on-board hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purpose, and comfortable seats. The executive class has rotating chairs, the authorities said.
"It is much more than the conventional Shatabdi rake of equal number of coaches," an officer said.