Delhi News: Every morning, passengers at New Delhi Railway Station witness an unusual spectacle as two of Indian Railways’ fastest trains, the New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express and the New Delhi-Rani Kamlapati Shatabdi Express, depart at the same time and briefly run alongside each other before heading towards different destinations. The side-by-side run, often described by passengers as a “race”, takes place because both trains are scheduled to leave New Delhi Railway Station at 6 am.
Two Premium Trains, One Departure Time: The New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 22436) departs New Delhi at 6 am for Varanasi. At the same time, the New Delhi-Rani Kamlapati Shatabdi Express (Train No. 12002) also leaves the station for Rani Kamlapati (Bhopal). Since both trains begin their journeys simultaneously on adjacent tracks, they can often be seen travelling side by side immediately after departure.
The brief “race” is witnessed between New Delhi Railway Station and Tilak Bridge Railway Station, where the schedules of both trains closely overlap. According to the official timetable, the Bhopal Shatabdi Express reaches Shivaji Bridge at 6:01 am and Tilak Bridge at 6:02 am. Meanwhile, the Varanasi Vande Bharat Express also crosses Shivaji Bridge at 6:01 am, but reaches Tilak Bridge at 6:03 am, placing the Shatabdi about a minute ahead during this stretch. The side-by-side run generally lasts only two to three minutes, after which the trains diverge onto separate routes.
After crossing Tilak Bridge, the two trains head in different directions. The Bhopal Shatabdi Express proceeds via Pragati Maidan, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Mathura, Agra, Jhansi and onwards to Rani Kamlapati (Bhopal). The Varanasi Vande Bharat Express continues via Mandawali-Chandra Vihar, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, Kanpur and Prayagraj before reaching Varanasi.
Vande Bharat’s Speed Advantage: Vande Bharat is among Indian Railways’ fastest semi-high-speed trains, with a design speed of 180 kmph and an operational speed that generally ranges between 83 kmph and 130 kmph, depending on the route. One of its standout features is its rapid acceleration, with the train capable of reaching 100 kmph in just 52 to 55 seconds.
The Shatabdi Express is also one of the country’s fastest premium trains and can attain a maximum speed of 150 kmph on suitable sections. Passengers travelling on either service often witness the brief side-by-side run, with Vande Bharat’s quick acceleration sometimes allowing it to surge ahead despite the Shatabdi initially leading according to the timetable.