New Delhi, February 2: Train 18, India’s fastest train, which is now called Vande Bharat Express, was attacked with stones during its trial run on Friday. According to reports, miscreants pelted stones on a new Train 18 while it was on its trial run. The Railways informed that the incident took place when the train left Sakurbasti at around 11:03 pm on Friday to reach New Delhi to begin its trial run to Allahabad. No one was hurt in the incident.  As soon as the incident was reported, RPF swung into action but no suspect was found. Reports inform that the train was escorted by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel. Indian Railways Approaches PMO to Launch Train-18 with Fares 40-50% Higher than Shatabdi Express.

The Northern Railways in its statement said that on reaching New Delhi station, the escort party informed about stone pelting. It informed that the second coach from the front was hit near Sadar area under DLT(Delhi Lahori Gate) post. "A railway servant present in T-18 informed the escort party that a stone hit the window glass of coach no.188320 of T-18," an official said. Train 18: Visuals From The Inside of 'Vande Bharat Express'; Watch Video.

The incident comes barely a month after a similar stone pelting incident took place in Train 18 during a trial run between Delhi and Agra on 20th December 2018. The Vande Bharat Express had become operational in January 2019 at a curtailed speed of 130 kmph.

Acknowledging its made-in-India status, the Railways had named the Train 18 as Vande Bharat Express, which will ply from the national capital to Varanasi. Vande Bharat Express, the country's first engineless train which has been manufactured by Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. The train, which is set to replace the Shatabdi series, has the potential to run between 160 kmph to 200 kmph. At trials, it breached the 180-kmph mark and became India's fastest train by hitting speeds during a trial run on a section of the Delhi-Rajdhani route.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 02, 2019 08:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).