Nagpur–Pune Vande Bharat Express becomes longest in India, surpasses New Delhi–Varanasi Vande Bharat

Indian Railways on Sunday added another Vande Bharat Express that will operate in Maharashtra, this time linking Ajni (Nagpur) and Pune. The new service will be the first to connect areas between Wardha and Manmad with a Vande Bharat Express train. This will be the 12th Vande Bharat Express train to operate in Maharashtra.

Railway officials said the route will span 881 km, making it the longest Vande Bharat Express service in the country, overtaking the previous record held by the New Delhi–Varanasi route. It will also be the fastest train between Nagpur and Pune, with a top average speed of 73 kmph and 10 scheduled stops. The train will serve several new regions along the way, including Wardha, Akola, Shegaon, Bhusaval, Jalgaon, Manmad, Puntamba, and Daund.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday described the commencement of the Vande Bharat Express between Nagpur and Pune as a "matter of great joy" for the state.

He said the state had requested the Railway Minister for the service, and the proposal was acted upon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to reporters, CM Fadnavis said, "Today is a matter of great joy for all of us that the Vande Bharat train from Nagpur to Pune has started. We had made a request to the Railway Minister, and he had spoken of taking a positive decision. That decision has been implemented today by the PM. The most important thing is that among all the Vande Bharat trains started so far, this is the longest-distance train. This train will cover a distance of 881 kilometres in 12 hours."