Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday flagged off India's first semi-high speed train, Vande Bharat Express, from the New Delhi railway station. The train can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph and will travel from Delhi to Varanasi in 9 hours and 45 minutes.

Flagging off the train, Prime Minister Modi said, "I am grateful to designers and engineers behind Vande Bharat Express which will take its first trip from Delhi to Varanasi today. With our sincerity and hardwork in the last 4.5 years we have tried to improve railways."

According to reports, the tickets of the first commercial run of Vande Bharat Express, scheduled on February 17 have been completely sold out.