"Jodhpur-Delhi Vande Bharat to be expanded to 20 coaches": Ashwini Vaishnaw
Jodhpur, May 22
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday announced major railway upgrades and new services for Rajasthan, including the expansion of the Vande Bharat train operating between Jodhpur and New Delhi.
At the inaugural run of the 20-coach Vande Bharat Express between Jodhpur and Delhi Cantt, Vaishnaw said the Vande Bharat service on the route would be upgraded from an 8-coach rake to a 20-coach train, citing strong passenger demand.
"The Vande Bharat train from Jodhpur to Delhi is being upgraded from 8 coaches to a 20-coach train. Vande Bharat is a very popular train," Vaishnaw told the media.
He also announced the launch of a new rail service connecting Jaisalmer and Ahmedabad, along with infrastructure expansion in key railway hubs of western Rajasthan.
"Today, the service from Jaisalmer to Ahmedabad will also start, and to enable new trains to begin in Jodhpur, which is a very important centre for western Rajasthan, a coaching terminal will also be set up in Jodhpur," he said.
The Railway Minister further said a coaching care centre would also be inaugurated in Jaisalmer.
"Today, a coaching care centre will also be inaugurated in Jaisalmer," he added.
Earlier in the day, Vaishnaw arrived in Jodhpur, where he said the Centre is continuously undertaking major railway development projects across Rajasthan under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He highlighted that new rail lines, station modernisation projects, and additional train services are being introduced across western Rajasthan to improve connectivity.
According to the minister, a daily rail service connecting western Rajasthan to Chennai has recently been launched, along with new daily services to Pune and Hyderabad. He also referred to the earlier introduction of a Bikaner-Mumbai train and the newly inaugurated Jaisalmer-Ahmedabad service.
Vaishnaw said the Centre has allocated over Rs 10,000 crore for railway development in Rajasthan, with multiple projects currently underway, including new railway stations and fresh line constructions.
He noted that long-pending projects such as the gauge conversion of the Marwar Junction-Mavli section are progressing, while work has also begun on the Merta-Pushkar rail line project.
Responding to local demands, the Railway Minister said the request for a direct rail service to Haridwar has been noted and assured that a suitable arrangement would be made soon, adding that "good news" on the matter would follow shortly.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While more coaches are welcome, I hope the increased capacity doesn't lead to longer waiting times for bookings. Also, the gauge conversion on Marwar-Mavli is long overdue—glad it's finally moving. But we need more direct trains to the South, not just Pune and Hyderabad. Chennai is fine, but what about Bengaluru or Kochi? 🤔
Excellent initiative by Ashwini Vaishnaw ji! The Vande Bharat is truly world-class and expanding it shows the government's commitment to modernising Railways. The coaching terminal in Jodhpur will also create local jobs. Proud to see Rajasthan getting such attention. 🇮🇳
Finally! I've been waiting for something like this. The 8-coach Vande Bharat was always packed, especially during holidays. 20 coaches will be a game-changer. And the Haridwar direct service—yes please! Hope the 'good news' comes soon. 🙏
Impressive numbers: Rs 10,000 crore allocation for Rajasthan railways. But I hope the execution matches the announcements—many projects in the past have faced delays. Also, Merta-Pushkar line is a welcome addition for pilgrims. Let's see if they meet deadlines this time.
This is what we need—connectivity for smaller cities like Jaisalmer. With tourism booming in Rajasthan, the Ahmedabad link is smart. But I wish they'd also consider a direct train from Jodhpur to Udaipur, since many tourists do that circuit. Vande
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.