Indian Railways big update: 3 new trains, 4 route extensions and 7 additional halts approved; check routes, timings and stations

Indian Railways has approved two new train services, route extensions for several existing trains and additional stoppages for seven services. The decisions are expected to improve rail connectivity for passengers in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

The Railway Board has approved the Kasganj-Aishbagh Express in Uttar Pradesh and the Valsad-Surat MEMU in Gujarat as new services. Several trains have also received route extensions, while seven services will get additional halts.

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Separate notifications detailing the new services, route extensions and stoppages will be issued by the concerned railway zones.

Kasganj-Aishbagh Express to run daily

The Railway Board has approved the 15312/15311 Kasganj-Aishbagh Express as a daily service.

Train No. 15312 will depart Kasganj at 4:20 am and reach Aishbagh railway station in Lucknow at 1 pm. On the return journey, Train No. 15311 will leave Aishbagh at 2 pm and arrive in Kasganj at 10:40 pm.

The train will stop at Ujhani, Badaun, Bareilly, Izzatnagar, Pilibhit, Puranpur, Mailani, Gola Gokarannath, Lakhimpur, Sitapur, Sidhauli and Mohibullapur.

The new service is expected to provide an additional rail link between Kasganj and Lucknow, benefiting passengers travelling across the route.

Valsad-Surat MEMU service approved

A new daily Valsad-Surat MEMU service has also received approval from the Railway Board.

Train No. 69149 will depart Valsad at 1:20 pm and reach Surat at 4:40 pm.

The service will halt at Dungri, Joravasan, Bilimora, Amlasad, Ancheli, Vedchha, Gandhi Smriti, Navsari, Maroli, Sachin, Bhestan and Udhna.

The new MEMU service is expected to provide an additional commuting option for passengers travelling between Valsad, Navsari, Surat and stations along the route.

Varanasi City-Gorakhpur Express extended to Nepalganj Road

The Railway Board has approved the extension of Train No. 15132/15131 Varanasi City-Gorakhpur Express up to Nepalganj Road.

Under the revised schedule, Train No. 15132 will leave Varanasi City at 10:35 pm and reach Nepalganj Road at 11:20 am the following day. On the return journey, Train No. 15131 will depart Nepalganj Road at 4:15 pm and arrive at Varanasi City at 5:30 am the next day.

On the extended route, the train will stop at Nakhaha Jungle, Peppeganj, Campierganj, Anand Nagar, Siddharth Nagar, Shohratgarh, Barhni, Tulsipur, Balrampur, Gonda, Payagpur, Bahraich and Risia.

Rewa-Jabalpur Express extended to Madan Mahal

The Railway Board has also approved the extension of Train No. 22189/22190 Rewa-Jabalpur Express up to Madan Mahal.

Train No. 22190 Rewa-Madan Mahal Express will depart Rewa at 5:45 am and reach Madan Mahal at 10:07 am. It will halt at Jabalpur from 9:46 am to 9:51 am.

In the opposite direction, Train No. 22189 Madan Mahal-Rewa Express will depart Madan Mahal at 5 pm, reach Jabalpur at 5:10 pm and arrive in Rewa at 9:22 pm.

The extension is expected to improve connectivity for passengers travelling between Rewa, Jabalpur and surrounding areas.

Jabalpur-Ambikapur Express extended to Madan Mahal

Another service receiving a route extension is the 11265/11266 Jabalpur-Ambikapur Express, which has been approved for extension up to Madan Mahal.

Train No. 11266 Ambikapur-Madan Mahal Express will leave Ambikapur at 6:15 am and reach Madan Mahal at 3:20 pm. The train will halt at Jabalpur from 2:55 pm to 3 pm.

For the return journey, Train No. 11265 Madan Mahal-Ambikapur Express will depart Madan Mahal at 12:25 pm, reach Jabalpur at 12:35 pm and arrive in Ambikapur at 11 pm.

Seven trains to get additional stoppages

The Railway Board has also approved additional stoppages for seven train services. The newly sanctioned halts are:

• 15093/15094 Achhnera-Tanakpur Express — Banbasa
• 12221/12222 Pune-Howrah Duronto Express — Akola
• 55331/55332 Kasganj-Achhnera Passenger — Garhi Beri
• 12933/12934 Bandra-Vatva Karnavati Express — Navsari
• 14319/14320 Indore-Bareilly Express — Dibai
• 20161/20162 Pune-Jabalpur Express — Khandwa
• 63387/63388 Jamalpur-Gaya MEMU — Pawai Brahmasthan

New train services and stoppages to improve connectivity

The latest Railway Board approvals cover new train services, extended routes and additional stoppages across multiple regions. The measures are aimed at providing passengers with more travel options and improving connectivity between important cities and towns.

The concerned railway zones are expected to issue separate notifications with the operational details of the newly approved services, route extensions and stoppages.

Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi express train to be extend up to Katra soon

The railway board approved the extension of the Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express till Katra, a move aimed at facilitating pilgrims and passengers travelling from western India, officials said.

The train will run via Jammu and halt at Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan station in Udhampur before reaching Shri Mata Vaishno Devi railway station at Katra, according to the Northern Railway's Jammu division.

The extension is expected to benefit thousands of passengers from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and other parts of western India, who currently have to deboard at Jammu Tawi and take buses or other modes of transport to reach Katra, they added.

With the extended service, passengers will not have to change trains or make separate arrangements for onward travel to Katra, reducing travel time and additional expenses, they said.

The commencement date of the extended service will be notified separately after finalisation.

Passengers have been advised to check the IRCTC website, mobile application or station enquiry counters for reservation and the latest status of the train.

The Jammu division officials said the extension would further facilitate religious tourism and provide more convenient rail connectivity to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

Railway Board approves new superfast express train to link Tricity with Uttar Pradesh

The Railway Board has approved a new Kalka-Sultanpur Superfast Express via Chandigarh, giving the Tricity an additional direct rail link to Uttar Pradesh. Train Nos. 22260/22259 will operate three days a week via Ambala, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut and Hathras.

The train will connect Kalka and Chandigarh with key Uttar Pradesh cities including Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Hathras and Sultanpur. It will also stop at Musafirkhana, Maharaja Bijli Pasi, Haidergarh, Rehmatnagar, Lucknow Charbagh, Unnao, Kanpur Central, Hathras Junction, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Meerut City, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur and Ambala Cantt.

Train No. 22260 Sultanpur-Kalka Superfast Express will run every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, departing Sultanpur at 11:30 am and reaching Kalka at 4:20 am the next day. Train No. 22259 Kalka-Sultanpur Superfast Express will run every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, leaving Kalka at 11:30 am and reaching Sultanpur at 4:20 am the following day.

The service will use LHB coaches, with primary maintenance at Sultanpur. Cleaning and water-refilling facilities will be available at Kanpur, Meerut City and Saharanpur.

Northern Railway has been directed to introduce the service at the earliest convenient date. The inaugural run may be operated as a special train if required.

Inputs from agencies