Gorakhpur–Prayagraj Vande Bharat Express

The 22549/22550 Gorakhpur - Prayagraj Vande Bharat Express is India's 25th Vande Bharat Express train, connecting the city of Gorakhpur City via Ayodhya and terminating at the city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.^[1][2] This express train is a former of another service which terminated at state capital city Lucknow which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 July 2023.^[3][4]

Gorakhpur Jn - Prayagraj Jn Vande Bharat Express
This Mini Vande Bharat Express getting ready for inaugural run towards Prayagraj Junction
Overview
Service type	Vande Bharat Express
Locale	Uttar Pradesh
First service	7 July 2023 (2023-07-07) (Inaugural run) 9 July 2023; 2 years ago (9 July 2023) (Commercial run)
Current operator(s)	North Eastern Railways (NER)
Route
Termini	Gorakhpur Junction (GKP) Prayagraj Junction (PRYJ)
Stops	4
Distance travelled	500 km (311 mi)
Average journey time	07 hrs 30 mins
Service frequency	Six days a week [a]
Train number(s)	22549 / 22550
Line(s) used	Gorakhpur–Lucknow line Lucknow–Rae Bareli–Varansi line (till Rae Bareli Jn) Rae Bareli–Unchahar–Prayagraj line
On-board services
Class(es)	AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car
Seating arrangements	Airline style Rotatable seats
Sleeping arrangements	No
Catering facilities	On-board catering
Observation facilities	Large windows in all coaches
Entertainment facilities	On-board WiFi Infotainment System Electric outlets Reading light Seat Pockets Bottle Holder Tray Table
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks
Other facilities	Kavach
Technical
Rolling stock	Vande Bharat 2.0
Track gauge	Indian gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed	110 km/h (68 mph) (Oper.)
Average length	384 metres (1,260 ft) (16 coaches)
Track owner(s)	Indian Railways
Rake maintenance	Gorakhpur Jn (GKP)
Route map Legend 22549 ↓ Gorakhpur Junction Basti Ayodhya Junction Lucknow Charbagh Rae Bareli Junction 22550 ↑ Prayagraj Junction

This extension was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing from Ahmedabad on March 12, 2024.^[5][6]

Overview

This train is operated by Indian Railways, connecting Gorakhpur Jn, Basti, Ayodhya Jn, Lucknow Charbagh, Rae Bareli Jn and Prayagraj Jn. It is operated with train numbers 22549/22550 on 6 days a week basis.^[7]

Rakes

It is the twenty-third 2nd Generation Vande Bharat 2.0 which was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory at Perambur, Chennai under the Make in India Initiative.^[8]

Service

The 22549/22550 Gorakhpur - Prayagraj Vande Bharat Express operates 6 days a week, covering a distance of 500 km (310 mi) in a travel time of 07 hrs 30 mins with an average speed of 71 km/h (44 mph). The Maximum Permissible Speed is 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph).

Incidents

After the inauguration ceremony of the newly launched Vande Bharat Express train between Gorakhpur and Lucknow, it met with a goat incident. This incident took place on 11 July 2023 when crossing Sohawal, about 15 km away from Ayodhya Cantt. Jn railway station, leading to damage of window panes at coaches C1, C3, C5 (Chair Car) and E1 (Executive Chair Car). No casualties were reported during that incident.^[9]

See also

• Vande Bharat Express
• Gatimaan Express
• Tejas Express
• Gorakhpur Junction railway station
• Lucknow Charbagh railway station
• Prayagraj Junction railway station

Notes

1. Except Saturdays