India's semi-high speed train Vande Bharat Express which was flagged off by PM Narendra Modi yesterday, breaks down around 5.30 am this morning on its return from Varanasi to Delhi.
According to railway officials who didn't want to be identified, there was a major technical fault that led to break locking and wheel friction. To add on there was complete power failure to four coaches. Till 7.50 am the Indian Railways failed to identify and rectify the problem.
On the question of whether the Train 18 or Vande Bharat Express was fit for commercial run tomorrow, railway officials were mum.
Notably, Train 18 is completely booked and has waiting list till February 24. Vande Bharat Express is expected to start it's commercial operations tomorrow.
The reporter who was on board along with few other media officials felt sudden breaks being applied around 5.30 am at Barhan around 18 km from Tundla station.
A railway official on condition of anonymity said, "If the engineers are unable to rectify the problem, the train would be towed using another engine. But there would be problem in attaching engine. Engine coupler is covered and the coupler cover needs to be removed. He added that it is still unclear if commercial operations will be started from Sunday onwards.
The train resumed it's operations around 10.30 am and reached New Delhi railway station at 1pm. According to railway officials the train was driven at speed of around 100km/h on enroute to Delhi after rectifying the fault.
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