Patna, June 20 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off a new Vande Bharat Express through video conferencing from Siwan, connecting Patliputra Junction in Patna to Gorakhpur Junction in Uttar Pradesh.

The train offers a new, fast, safe and convenient travel option between eastern Uttar Pradesh and northern Bihar. It will run six days a week (except Saturdays). Departing Gorakhpur at 5:40 AM, the train will reach Patliputra by 12:45 PM, and in the return direction, it will depart Patliputra at 3:30 PM and arrive in Gorakhpur by 10:30 PM.

The Vande Bharat Express has a semi-high-speed capability which significantly reduces travel time. The Gorakhpur to Patliputra journey, which earlier took 10 to 12 hours, can now be complet...