Surat to Udaipur Vande Bharat Express Launches: 6 Days a Week Service, Route Schedule

In a major connectivity upgrade linking Gujarat's textile and diamond capital directly with the City of Lakes in Rajasthan, Indian Railways has launched the brand-new Surat–Udaipur City Vande Bharat Express. Following the ceremonial run of the inaugural special on Friday, October 2, 2026, regular scheduled commercial services are set to begin from Saturday, October 3, 2026. Designed to slash travel hours and deliver premium semi-high-speed comfort across western India, the indigenous eight-coach train will operate six days a week (excluding Tuesdays), connecting major industrial, educational, and tourist hubs across southern Rajasthan and central-to-south Gujarat.Inaugural Special on Gandhi Jayanti: Timings and Rake CompositionThe festival-season rail boost kicked off with an inaugural special run flagged off from Surat:Inaugural Train 09103 Details: According to Amit Sudarshan, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Western Railway, train number 09103 Surat–Udaipur City Inaugural Special departed Surat at 10:00 AM on October 2, arriving at Udaipur City station at 5:40 PM.Modern 8-Coach Configuration: The inaugural service and regular scheduled runs will be operated with a sleek, state-of-the-art eight-coach Vande Bharat rake, featuring plush rotatable seats, onboard infotainment, automatic plug doors, and bio-vacuum vacuum toilets.Regular Timetable and Schedule: Train Numbers 26903 and 26904Regular commercial operations for the route commence across both directions over the weekend:Train No. 26904 (Udaipur City to Surat): Regular service begins on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The train departs Udaipur City at 3:35 PM and pulls into Surat railway station at 11:00 PM the same night.Train No. 26903 (Surat to Udaipur City): Regular departures from Surat commence on Sunday, October 4, 2026. The train departs Surat early morning at 6:10 AM and reaches Udaipur City by afternoon at 1:40 PM.Operational Frequency: Both services will operate six days weekly, remaining off the tracks on Tuesdays for scheduled maintenance and safety overhauls.Key Route Stoppages: Connecting Gujarat and Rajasthan CentersThe semi-high-speed express provides crucial regional connectivity with strategic stops designated in both directions:Major Gujarat Stations: Commuters can board or deboard at Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Maninagar, Asarwa (Ahmedabad), and Himmatnagar.Border and Rajasthan Stops: The service provides direct halts at Shamlaji Road, followed by Rajasthan’s tribal and mineral-rich centers of Dungarpur and Zawar, before terminating at Udaipur City.Udaipur-Asarwa Vande Bharat Withdrawn to Pave Way for Surat ExtensionTo optimize track utilization and deliver a longer, high-demand inter-state route, railway authorities have restructured the existing local corridor:Discontinuation of Train 26963/26964: With the introduction of the comprehensive Surat–Udaipur link, the existing Train No. 26963/26964 Udaipur City–Asarwa–Udaipur City Vande Bharat Express has been discontinued effective October 2, 2026.Seamless Travel Without Transfers: Passengers who previously utilized the shorter Ahmedabad (Asarwa) to Udaipur route can now leverage the Surat-extended train, unlocking seamless single-train transit all the way through Vadodara, Bharuch, and Surat without the hassle of changing trains.