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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the country's first semi high speed train, Vande Bharat Express, at New Delhi railway station in India, on Feb. 15, 2019. The train will travel from Delhi to Varanasi in 9 hours and 45 minutes, officials said. (Xinhua/Partha Sarkar)

NEW DELHI, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday flagged off the country's first semi high speed train - Vande Bharat Express.

The train, previously named Train 18, was flagged off from the New Delhi railway station.

"The train can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph and will provide a totally new travel experience to passengers," a spokesman said.

Indian railway minister Piyush Goyal and members of railway board were on board the train on its inaugural journey.

The train will travel from Delhi to Varanasi in 9 hours and 45 minutes, officials said.

The Indian government in 2015 announced an investment of over 137 billion U.S. dollars over a period of five years to boost railways and modernize it on new lines.

India's sprawling railways ferry around 23 million people each day.