INAUGURAL RUN OF BILASPUR VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS FLAGGED OFF BY PM MODI

So, me and my fellow railfans planned to have our first ever get together at Rajnandgaon Station on the occasion of inaugural run of 01826 Nagpur Bilaspur Vande Bharat Special Express which was flagged off by Honorable PM Shri Narendra Modi, the train departed right time from Nagpur, at that time I boarded the 08705 R-DGG Memu from Raipur to Rajnandgaon.
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Along with me 3 railfan were also going to board the same memu but unfortunately they missed the train due to some misunderstanding. Later I got company of 1 more railfan from Durg and we were watching the inauguration of the train in YouTube live, 3 members who missed the memu then boarded 12854 Bhopal Durg Amarkantak Express from Raipur to Durg as it was running late and later they planned to take 12854 Puri Ahmedabad till Rajnandgaon inbetween 18030 Shalimar LTT Express was also running late and was ahead of 12853 Amarkantak Express so all of a sudden 18030 and 12854 (12854 made an unscheduled halt) arrived Bhilai Nagar at same time those members suddenly deboarded 12853 and hopped into 18030 and reached Rajnandgaon.

After that we guys had some chit chat and took some breakfast and thought of greeting Station Master of Rajnandgaon station and Loco Pilot of Vande Bharat Express with Bouquet because railway staff's work has never been appreciated or noticed and also the ticket for inaugural run of Vande Bharat Express was not made available for normal citizen and only the railway staffs and their families and media persons were allowed to board this train so, we atleast wanted to give special appreciation to these railways staff.

After that god has some good plans for us, we interacted with Station Master and Commercial Inspector sir and they really liked our appreciation and efforts so as a reward they issued us "Souvenir Ticket for Inaugural Run" on spot.

Man, It was an over whelming moment for us 🥺🥺🥺. We literally never expected this. It was like a jackpot for us. I can't describe that moment with words, we were excited as well as emotional (just mixed reactions) as this is going to be the inaugural of the most premium train of our SECR and before that, the premium train of SECR was 22867 Durg - Nizamuddin Humsafar Express.

Then the Vande Bharat Express train came, we boarded it with full of joy, we planned to deboard at Raipur Jn. but then thought these kind of moment doesn't come daily so decided to have a ride till its last stop Bilaspur Jn.

As it was the train's inaugural run so, it was taking halt at most of the small stations too so, that people from these small station can atleast see this train closely and board it for 50-60 second. The whole stations were overcrowded with public to welcome this Vande Bharat Express. People were taking pictures from track sides, road sides, highway side, bridges and what not. It was like, they were witnessing the engineering marvel in their very own city for the first time.

Inside the train we were welcomed with Rail Neer, Juices and after that we were provided some sort of snacks.

Honorable MP of Bilaspur Mr. Arun Sao was also travelling in this train till Bilaspur he interacted with all the passengers inside the train.

Also inside the train for the first time we, ever had interacted with Railway's Public Relation Officers and also gave some sort of interview to the assistant of Public Relation Officer.

The the train reached Bilaspur on time and again at Bilaspur a grand welcome was done for this train and some sort of cultural event was conducted near by the platform.

Later that even I with my fellow railfans boarded 13288 Rajendra Nagar - Durg South Bihar Express from Bilaspur to Raipur, Bhilai Power House.

[[ And lastly, one thing which I personally noticed for the first time was that, this train came at Platform 1 at Raipur Jn. (downline) otherwise PF1 of Raipur is most used for trains coming from Howrah Side and going to Mumbai side or Trains coming from Bilaspur Side and going to Vishakapatnam side. ]]