Varanasi is set to become the launchpad for four additional Vande Bharat Express trains on November 8th, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi officiating the ceremony. These advanced semi-high-speed trains are engineered to significantly shorten travel durations, bolster connectivity between regions, enhance tourism experiences, and stimulate economic growth.
The newly introduced Vande Bharat services will ply the routes of Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur, Firozpur–Delhi, and Ernakulam–Bengaluru.
The Banaras–Khajuraho route will directly link these two iconic destinations, significantly improving access to cultural and religious sites. Travelers will save nearly 2 hours and 40 minutes, making journeys to places like Chitrakoot and the Khajuraho UNESCO World Heritage Site much more efficient for pilgrims and tourists alike.
Serving Uttar Pradesh, the Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat aims to improve regional connectivity by reducing travel time to approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes, an hour less than current options. This route benefits passengers from numerous cities including Sitapur, Bareilly, Moradabad, and Bijnor, and offers improved access to Haridwar through Roorkee, supporting regional commerce and mobility.
In the northern corridor, the Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat is set to become the quickest train service, making the journey in just 6 hours and 40 minutes. This move will strengthen the transport links between Delhi and key Punjabi cities like Firozpur, Bathinda, and Patiala, expected to yield positive impacts on trade, tourism, and employment.
Southern India will see enhanced connectivity with the Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express. This service slashes travel time by over 2 hours, with the trip now taking 8 hours and 40 minutes. It connects vital commercial and IT centers, streamlining travel for business, education, and leisure, and promoting economic and tourist development across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.