As automotive technology is perpetually cultivated, travel becomes more convenient and subsequently desirable. The new addition of a semi high-speed train to the Indian Railways is certainly on its way to pull footfall, as it reduces travel time from Mumbai to Shirdi by 6 hours. Train 18, also known as Vande Bharat Express will cover the distance of 291 km in merely 3 hours the current journey is an overnight haul of 9 hours. 

Shirdi is a well-known city in the state of Maharashtra, often travelled to for spiritual and religious purposes. It witnesses heavy crowds throughout the year, peaking on holy days. Currently, the railways is a less preferred transportation option to Shirdi due to its exhausting travel time the car ride is only 3 hours. Indian Railways authorities hope that the introduction of this efficient locomotive will allow more people to consider train journeys to Shirdi.

The Mumbai to Shirdi journey taken by Train 18 will travel via Pune/ Daund or Manmad railway stations. With a top speed of 180 kmph, the train will travel highest at a speed of 160 kmph. The proposal for a morning schedule was made at the Central Railways meeting to ensure the possibility of a one-day journey.

Currently, the train runs from New Delhi to Varanasi, covering a distance of 758.8 km in 8 hours. In May, the Railway Ministry held a meeting in New Delhi, where Western Railways proposed a new route from Mumbai to Delhi.