PM Modi Inaugurates 4 New Vande Bharat Trains, Expanding India's High-Speed Rail Network to 164 Services

The new Vande Bharat trains inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi will significantly enhance regional connectivity across India.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh):

Indian Railways has expanded its premium service network to 164 Vande Bharat Express trains nationwide following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of four new services from Varanasi on Saturday, according to railway officials.

Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity for the Indian Railway Board, confirmed to ANI, "Our existing network of 156 Vande Bharat Express services has now grown to 164 with these eight new services. The Prime Minister today launched the Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express, alongside the Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express, Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express, and the Ernakulam-Coimbatore-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express."

These newly inaugurated high-speed trains will operate on strategic routes connecting major destinations across the country. The introduction of these services aims to reduce travel time significantly, boost regional mobility, enhance tourism opportunities, and stimulate economic growth in multiple regions.

The Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express establishes direct connectivity between these important destinations, saving approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes compared to existing special train services. This route connects several of India's most significant religious and cultural sites, including Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho. The service will strengthen religious tourism while offering pilgrims and visitors a modern, comfortable journey to Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express completes its journey in about 7 hours and 45 minutes, reducing travel time by nearly an hour. This service will particularly benefit passengers from multiple cities including Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, and Saharanpur, while improving access to Haridwar via Roorkee. This connection enhances intercity travel across central and western Uttar Pradesh, contributing to regional development.

The Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express emerges as the fastest train on its route, completing the journey in just 6 hours and 40 minutes. This service strengthens the connection between India's capital and key Punjab cities including Firozpur, Bathinda, and Patiala. The train is expected to stimulate trade, tourism, and employment, supporting socio-economic development in border regions and fostering better integration with national markets.

In Southern India, the Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express reduces travel time by over 2 hours, completing the journey in 8 hours and 40 minutes. This route connects major IT and commercial centers, offering professionals, students, and tourists a faster and more comfortable travel option between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, supporting regional economic activity and cross-state collaboration.