My first Vande Bharat experience

Writing this post as I sit in NJP HWH Vande Bharat express on 27th April 2025.

Having heard about this train so much it was finally our turn to board it.  Here is my honest review from the journey so far.

Pros:

1) The train looks fantastic from the exterior.

2) Attention and timelines so far are quite good.

3) The interiors resemble a flight, the over head luggage space is quite big.

5) Toilets are a major upliftment. Impressed to see automatic flush, soap dispensers and hand dryers in an Indian train.

Cons:

1) The normal chair cars are okay. Sometimes it feels cramped when it is fully packed in a holiday season.

2) I've personally enjoyed a Shatabdi express train ride over this.

3) The body and build is like a bullet train but without the actual experience. Runs like a superfast but charges and fees are like bullet.

4) This experience is neither an Indigo flight ( the aspiration) nor a memorable irctc train ride that one can fondly wish to take again.

5) It is more hyped than the actual
experience.

Verdict: 

Stick to the glorious time tested prestigious Shatabdi / rajdhani / laalbagh express / Darjeeling Mail if you take a train ride once in a while to experience irctc hospitality.

Take a Vande Bharat if you want to have a flight like business travel if you want to save some money & be more eco friendly.