2024 has been a year of significant milestones for Indian Railways, particularly with the expansion of the Vande Bharat Express network. With more than 30 new Vande Bharat trains launched this year, the total number of these semi-high-speed trains has reached 136 by December 2024. This rapid expansion is a part of the government’s vision to modernize rail travel, offering faster, more comfortable connectivity across the country. Below is a detailed look at the newly launched Vande Bharat Express trains in 2024, their routes, and features.
Route: New Delhi – Varanasi
Distance: 771 km
Duration: ~8 hours
Train Numbers: 22436/22435 and 22415/22416
This is India’s first 20-coach Vande Bharat Express, connecting the national capital to the spiritual city of Varanasi. With a capacity of 1,440 passengers, it operates daily, offering a comfortable and fast travel experience for pilgrims and tourists alike.
Route: Nagpur – Secunderabad
Distance: 575 km
Duration: 7 hours 15 minutes
Train Numbers: 20101/20102
This 20-coach train enhances connectivity between Nagpur and Secunderabad, covering the distance in just over 7 hours. It operates six days a week, except Tuesdays, providing a fast and efficient service for travelers in central India.
Route: Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil
Distance: 726 km
This Vande Bharat train connects Tamil Nadu’s capital with the scenic town of Nagercoil. Operating six days a week, this service reduces travel time significantly and offers modern amenities for passengers.
Route: Madurai – Bengaluru (via Tiruchchirappalli)
Distance: ~500 km
This new train is the first direct connection between Madurai and Bengaluru, catering to businesspeople, students, and professionals. It operates six days a week, excluding Sundays.
Route: Meerut City – Lucknow
Distance: ~500 km
This Vande Bharat train serves as a fast and comfortable option for travelers between the industrial and cultural hubs of Uttar Pradesh. It operates six days a week, enhancing regional connectivity.
Route: Tatanagar – Patna
Distance: ~500 km
Duration: 7 hours
This train connects the industrial city of Tatanagar with Patna, providing a fast and efficient mode of travel. It operates six days a week, with morning and afternoon departures for convenient travel.
Route: Gaya – Howrah
Distance: 458 km
Duration: 5 hours 40 minutes
This Vande Bharat service offers a swift and modern travel experience between the pilgrimage city of Gaya and Kolkata, operating six days a week (except Thursdays).
Route: Rourkela – Howrah
Distance: ~550 km
With a travel time of about 7 hours, this train connects two major industrial and cultural centers in eastern India. Operating six days a week, it ensures efficient and comfortable travel for the region’s residents.
Route: Agra – Varanasi
Distance: 573 km
Duration: ~7 hours
This service connects two of India’s historic cities, Agra and Varanasi, offering a high-speed and comfortable travel experience. It operates six days a week, except Fridays.
Route: Pune – Hubballi
Distance: 557 km
Duration: 8 hours 30 minutes
This new service, operating three days a week (Wed, Fri, Sun), links Pune and Hubballi, offering a fast and comfortable alternative for travelers across the western region.
Route: Kolhapur – Pune
Distance: 326 km
Duration: 5 hours 15 minutes
With three stops along the route, this train enhances connectivity between Kolhapur and Pune. It operates three days a week, offering a quicker travel option for passengers.
Route: Durg – Visakhapatnam
Distance: ~700 km
Duration: Reduced from 11 hours to 8 hours
This new Vande Bharat train reduces travel time between Durg and Visakhapatnam, operating six days a week (except Thursdays), and offers a boost to tourism and business in the region.
Route: Bhagalpur – Howrah
Distance: ~440 km
This train operates six days a week and connects Bhagalpur with Kolkata, significantly improving travel options for passengers between Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
Route: Deoghar – Varanasi
Distance: 454 km
Duration: 7 hours
This service links the popular religious destinations of Deoghar and Varanasi, operating six days a week (except Tuesdays).
Route: Tatanagar – Brahmapur
Distance: 609 km
This new service operates six days a week and significantly enhances connectivity between these two important industrial and cultural centers in eastern India.
Route: Jammu Tawi – Srinagar
This train provides a seamless connection to the Kashmir Valley, promoting tourism and regional connectivity. It operates six days a week.
Route: Chandigarh – Amritsar
Distance: ~300 km
Duration: <4 hours
This service enhances connectivity within Punjab, offering a fast travel option between the state’s two key cities. It operates six days a week.
Route: Jaipur – Udaipur
Distance: ~400 km
Duration: <6 hours
This train boosts tourism and trade between the capital of Rajasthan and the historic city of Udaipur. It operates six days a week.
Route: Ahmedabad – Rajkot
Distance: 221 km
Duration: 4 hours
This service strengthens regional connectivity within Gujarat, operating six days a week to link the industrial hubs of Ahmedabad and Rajkot.
Route: Mumbai – Goa
Distance: ~580 km
Duration: <8 hours
Connecting the financial capital of India with the popular tourist destination of Goa, this train operates six days a week, offering a scenic and efficient travel experience.
Route: Mumbai – Shirdi
This service connects Mumbai with the pilgrimage town of Shirdi, providing fast and efficient travel for devotees. It operates six days a week.
Route: Hyderabad – Tirupati
This new train enhances connectivity between the tech hub of Hyderabad and the spiritual town of Tirupati, reducing travel time significantly. It operates six days a week.
Route: Bhopal – Indore
Distance: 200 km
Duration: 3 hours
This new Vande Bharat train operates daily (except Mondays) and connects two major cities in Madhya Pradesh, providing a quick and comfortable travel option.
Route: Bhopal – Jabalpur
Distance: 330 km
Duration: ~5 hours
This service operates six days a week (except Sundays), offering a modern travel experience for passengers traveling between Bhopal and Jabalpur.
Route: Raipur – Bhubaneswar
Distance: ~450 km
Duration: 6 hours
This new Vande Bharat service boosts regional connectivity and operates six days a week, improving access between the capitals of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
Route: Coimbatore – Kochi
Distance: 195 km
Duration: 3 hours
This new Vande Bharat train enhances connectivity between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, providing a faster travel option and operating six days a week.
Route: Guwahati – Imphal
Distance: ~500 km
Duration: 7 hours
This service operates six days a week, connecting Assam’s capital with the capital of Manipur, and promoting better connectivity in the Northeast.
Route: Guwahati – Agartala
Distance: ~400 km
Duration: 6 hours
This train provides faster travel between Assam and Tripura, operating six days a week.
Route: Kolkata – Siliguri
Distance: 567 km
Duration: 8 hours
Operating daily (except Wednesdays), this train enhances connectivity to North Bengal, offering comfort and speed to passengers traveling through the region.
Route: Lucknow – Gorakhpur
Distance: 270 km
Duration: 4 hours
This train operates six days a week, offering a quick and modern travel experience for passengers between Lucknow and Gorakhpur.
Route: Patna – Darbhanga
Distance: 120 km
Duration: 3 hours
This service connects Patna with Darbhanga, offering a fast and comfortable travel option. It operates daily, except Fridays.
With the introduction of these 31 new Vande Bharat Express trains in 2024, Indian Railways is strengthening its commitment to modernizing rail travel. These trains not only provide faster travel times but also offer passengers a high level of comfort, advanced safety features, and energy-efficient systems. The Vande Bharat Express network continues to grow, ensuring better connectivity across India, fostering tourism, business, and regional integration.
