Indian Railways Expands Vande Bharat Network with Four New Routes

Indian Railways is set to significantly enhance its semi-high-speed rail network with the launch of four new Vande Bharat Express trains, improving connectivity across several states. With these additions, the total number of Vande Bharat services across the country will reach 164. The new routes will connect key destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Karnataka, and Kerala, boosting tourism and passenger convenience.Boosting Connectivity in Uttar PradeshTwo of the newly approved services will significantly improve intra-state and inter-state connectivity for Uttar Pradesh.TheLucknow Junction–Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express will link the state capital with its northwestern region. Operating six days a week, excluding Mondays, this service will enhance travel for passengers in a crucial corridor. The train (No. 26504) will depart from Lucknow Junction at 5:00 AM and arrive in Saharanpur at 12:45 PM. The return journey (Train No. 26503) will see it leave Saharanpur at 3:00 PM, reaching Lucknow at 11:00 PM. Key stops along this route include Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Najibabad, and Roorkee.Another significant addition is theVaranasi–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express, which will connect the spiritual city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with the UNESCO World Heritage site of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. This move is expected to provide a major boost to tourism in the region. The train (No. 26422) will depart from Varanasi at 5:25 AM and reach Khajuraho at 1:10 PM. For the return leg, the train (No. 26421) will leave Khajuraho at 3:20 PM and arrive in Varanasi at 11:00 PM. This service will run six days a week, except Thursdays, with stops at Vindhyachal, Prayagraj Chheoki, Chitrakutdham, Banda, and Mahoba.According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the Varanasi-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express from Banaras station on November 7th. During the same event, he is slated to virtually inaugurate the Lucknow-Saharanpur and Firozpur-Delhi services.Strengthening North and South India LinksThe other two routes announced are:Firozpur Cantt–Delhi Vande Bharat Express: Connecting Punjab with the national capital, this train will operate six days a week, excluding Wednesdays. It will make commercial halts at Faridkot, Bathinda, Dhuri, Patiala, Ambala Cantt, Kurukshetra, and Panipat.KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express: This service will strengthen the rail link between Karnataka and Kerala. It will also run six days a week, except on Wednesdays, with scheduled stops at Krishnarajapuram, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, and Thrissur.These new semi-high-speed trains are designed to reduce travel time and provide passengers with a modern and comfortable travel experience, complete with features like the KAVACH automatic train protection system and advanced safety measures. The Vande Bharat network has seen immense popularity, with high occupancy rates reported across all operational routes.