Indian Railways new trains have been introduced alongside several route extensions in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, giving travellers more options on regional rail corridors.

Platform at Hazur Sahib Nanded station with passenger train
Archive photo of the platform at Hazur Sahib Nanded station. Photo: Rizwanmahai / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the services⁠ on Monday and announced the route extensions as part of efforts to improve rail connectivity in the three states. The launch took place by video conference from Bhubaneswar, where the minister was visiting Odisha to review railway arrangements ahead of the Rath Yatra in Puri.

Indian Railways new trains and route extensions

The Nanded-Mumbai Express is among the new services and will run via Washim and Hingoli. The route is expected to improve rail access for passengers in several districts of Maharashtra’s Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.

Indian Railways has also launched the Tanakpur-Nanded Express. The service is expected to benefit passengers travelling between the two regions, particularly members of the Sikh community living in the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Existing routes are also changing. The Tanakpur-Pilibhit train has been extended to Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, while the Tanakpur-Agra service, which had been operated as a special train, has now been converted into a regular service.

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What changes for passengers?

The passenger-facing context is route-specific. The Tanakpur-Nanded Express gives passengers from the Terai region a direct link to Hazur Sahib in Nanded, which was described in the approved evidence base as a long-standing demand of the Sikh community. The Nanded-Mumbai Express also adds a clearer Maharashtra travel corridor by linking Nanded with Mumbai through places including Washim, Hingoli and Basmat.

Public demand and proposed stoppages

At the event, Vaishnaw said the new services were introduced in response to long-standing public demand and would help strengthen regional connectivity. He also said Indian Railways would examine requests for additional stops at Khatima and Banbasa.

“If it becomes possible, we will definitely provide a stoppage for this train at Khatima and Banbasa,” the minister said.

Vaishnaw also referred to wider railway development in India over the past 12 years. He said nearly 37,000 km of new railway tracks⁠ had been laid across the country, while 99.6% of the railway network had been electrified.

Special trains and Odisha investment

The minister added that Indian Railways will operate 100 special trains during the Onam festival⁠ in Kerala. More than 300 special trains will also run for devotees travelling to Puri for the Rath Yatra.

In Odisha, railway infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 90,000 crore are currently being implemented. According to Vaishnaw, the projects are aimed at strengthening connectivity and modernising the state’s rail network.

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