The Vande Bharat express, also known as Train 18, is a semi-high speed day train introduced and operated by Indian Railways. It is the first indigenous train set in India which connects major Indian cities such as Varanasi and New Delhi, Puri and Howrah, etc. It is a flagship project under the “Make in India” initiative and showcases India’s engineering prowess and technological advancement. It was launched in 2019 and initially started operations between New Delhi and Varanasi. India now has 18 Vande Bharat Express trains that are furnished with cutting-edge equipment and more are planned to be rolled out. It is energy efficient with regenerative braking systems that help in energy conservation. This is a major achievement for India. Get the latest Vande bharat express news, videos and headlines. Explore more for Vande bharat express breaking news, opinions, special reports and more on mint.