Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off first direct Ramnagar-Dehradun Express train
New Delhi, July 18
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday virtually flagged off the inaugural service of the Ramnagar-Dehradun Express, marking the commencement of the first-ever direct 'Express' train connecting these areas.
The new train fulfilled a long-pending demand of the people of the region and will significantly strengthen rail connectivity between the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand, according to an official statement.
It will provide convenient same-day connectivity to Dehradun and Haridwar, enabling passengers to complete official, educational, business and personal work before returning home.
Passengers will find it more convenient to access the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, including Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, through onward connectivity from Haridwar and Dehradun.
The train (15310) will operate every Wednesday and Friday and it will depart Ramnagar at 5:50 am and arrive at Dehradun at 12:40 pm.
On the return journey, train (15309) will depart Dehradun at 3:55 pm and reach Ramnagar at 11:30 pm.
The train will halt at Kashipur, Roshanpur, Pipalsana, Moradabad, Najibabad and Haridwar en route.
The train will comprise AC Second Class, AC Third Class, AC Chair Car, Sleeper Class, Second Sitting and General Second-Class coaches, offering comfortable travel options for passengers across different categories.
The new service will benefit residents of Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Dehradun districts in Uttarakhand, as well as Moradabad and Bijnor districts in Uttar Pradesh, including students, farmers and traders.
The train is also expected to promote tourism and pilgrimage in the region by improving connectivity to Jim Corbett National Park, the Girija Devi Temple, and the ancient religious sites of Sitamadhi or Sitavani.
Vaishnaw mentioned that Rishikesh railway station will be developed as a feeder station to ease pressure on Haridwar. The minister said that a master plan is being prepared to create additional capacity and improve connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Vaishnaw highlighted that the redevelopment of railway stations in Uttarakhand is progressing rapidly, and that 11 stations in the state are being redeveloped, including Dehradun, Haridwar Junction, Harrawala, Kashipur Junction, Kichha, Kotdwar, Roorkee, Kathgodam, Lal Kuan Junction, Ramnagar and Tanakpur.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami highlighted that the rail connectivity in Uttarakhand has improved significantly in recent years.
Dhami said work on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line is progressing rapidly and would become a lifeline for the social, economic, religious and tourism development of Uttarakhand.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative but only twice a week? 😕 For a state that sees huge tourist traffic to Char Dham and Jim Corbett, this should ideally be a daily service. Also, the train composition includes AC and sleeper classes — that's nice, but I hope the fares are reasonable for common passengers. Otherwise, it's just another luxury train that only the well-off can afford.
This is good news for students and traders. I have cousins in Nainital who study in Dehradun — they always complained about poor connectivity. Now with this direct train, plus the development of Rishikesh as a feeder station, the entire Kumaon-Garhwal region will benefit. But the real test will be punctuality and cleanliness. Hope Indian Railways maintains high standards on this route!
As someone who loves visiting Jim Corbett National Park, this is fantastic! The park is near Ramnagar, and getting to Dehradun directly will make travel much smoother for tourists. I just wish they'd run it on weekends too — many of us plan trips from Friday to Sunday. Still, it's a step in the right direction for eco-tourism in Uttarakhand. 🌿🐅
Arrives at Dehradun at 12:40 pm but returns at 3:55 pm? That gives barely 3 hours to do any work! For official or business trips, this is too tight. Overnight service would have been more practical for pilgrims heading to Char Dham. Also, the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line they mention — that's been "rapidly progressing" for years now. Let's see some real results, not just promises.
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