GUWAHATI: The passion for speed, comfort, and saving time is discernible among the youth and working class of the country. To match the aspiration, the Indian Railways Vande Bharat train has become the preferred travel option among all age groups of travellers.
With the operation of the state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express in Assam, people in Northeast Assam in particular are experiencing speed and comfort while travelling by rail. The Vande Bharat train has registered exceptional occupancy rates at the originating station as well as at enroute stations since its inauguration. Train no. 22227/22228 (New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri) on the Vande Bharat Express connecting New Jalpaiguri with the Gateway to the Northeast, Guwahati, has greatly reduced the average travel time of passengers in both directions by nearly one and a half hours. Welcomed by traders and businessmen apart from various sections of people around New Cooch Behar, New Alipurduar, Kokrajhar, and New Bongaigaon, the service has been registering good patronage since its introduction.
On the Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri route, people prefer to travel by train rather than by road, as the train from Guwahati to New Jalpaiguri takes 5 and a half hours, whereas a road journey takes around 10 hours. Commuters on the Vande Bharat trains can enjoy the delicious meals served onboard. The New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati Vande Bharat departs from New Jalpaiguri early in the morning at 06:10. Passengers, especially housewives, need not worry about having food prepared at home, as breakfast is served on the train as soon as the journey starts.
Vande Bharat is the most sought-after train across India today. It is an aspirational train for Indians who were bemoaning a lack of good trains. The craze of Vande Bharat, especially among the youth, can be tracked on social media, with people uploading their selfies and making videos with this new train of Indian Railways.
Among all passengers travelling in between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat, youngsters (males and females) in the age bracket of 25–34 years, on average, 27.21%, belong to this age group. Similarly, in the age bracket between 35 and 49 years, on average, 33.03 percent of passengers prefer Vande Bharat Express over other modes of transportation. This age group has become the highest among all age groups of passengers who travel on this Vande Bharat route. The senior citizens (60+ age group) have also shown their liking for the Vande Bharat Express for its comfort and speed. Among all passengers, on average, 7.91% belong to this age group.
This new-age train has enhanced the connectivity between the two states and various neighbouring cities. The train has proven to be a boon for rail commuters who travel frequently on this route, as the train is a convenient and time-saving option for travellers, stated a press release.
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