evidence: Vande Bharat trains: Budget 2022 laid out a grand plan of introducing 400 semi-high speed, next generation Vande Bharat trains in the next three years. FM Sitharaman pointed out that these "new-generation" Vande Bharat trains will offer better energy efficiency and passenger riding experience. But those are perhaps not the only reasons why the country’s budget and Indian Railways seem to be betting big on these fancy new trains that were first unveiled in 2018 as Train 18. [...] What are Vande Bharat trains?These train sets first revealed in 2018 captured the imagination of train travellers even when in the prototype stage. For those still not familiar, these Vande Bharat trains (also called Train 18 after year of manufacturing) are 180 kmph capable air-conditioned chair car services. Similar to bullet trains in terms of looks, the railways currently run two such trains on the Delhi-Varanasi and Delhi-Katra routes. [...] Vande Bharat trains: Future of rail travel in IndiaLast year, Indian Railways awarded a contract for self-propulsion systems and equipment for 44 Vande Bharats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address last year said that 75 Vande Bharat trains will connect different parts of the country by late 2023. After that railways floated another tender for 58 new trains, but that is yet to be awarded.