Indian Railways is set to introduce two new Vande Bharat Express trains linking Jodhpur and Bikaner with the national capital. The new services are expected to reduce travel time by over an hour on the respective routes. According to a tentative timetable, the train will depart from Jodhpur at 5.30 am and reach Delhi Cantt at 1.30 pm. On its return, it is expected to start at 15.10 hours and is likely to reach Jodhpur at 23.15 hours the same day.
According to a tentative timetable for the other Vande Bharat, it will start from Bikaner at 5.45 am and is expected to arrive at Delhi Cantt at 11.50 am. The train will return from Delhi Cantt at 16.45 hours and is proposed to reach Bikaner at 23.00 hours. No official word has been out on the exact inauguration dates but several reports say that PM Narendra Modi will flag off the new Vande Bharats on September 25.
As per railway officials, these new semi-high-speed trains are expected to further strengthen connectivity, enhance passenger experience and boost regional economy. These new trains will be maintained and operated by the North Western Railway (NWR) zone.
How many Vande Bharat trains are currently operational in Rajasthan?
Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train was flagged off by Prime Minister Modi on April 12, 2023. The train which runs from Ajmer to Delhi Cantt also marks itself as the world’s first semi high speed passenger train on high rise overhead electric (OHE) territory.
Currently, 4 pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains are operational in the state. These trains run on following routes:
Train number 20977/20978 Ajmer-Chandigarh-Ajmer Vande Bharat Express
Train number 12461/12462 Jodhpur-Sabarmati-Jodhpur Vande Bharat Express
Train number 20979/20980 Udaipur-Jaipur-Udaipur Vande Bharat Express
Train number 20981/20982 Udaipur-Agra Cantt-Udaipur Vande Bharat Express
Vande Bharat train speed
The trains have a design speed of 180 kmph, although the maximum operational speed is currently 160 kmph due to track limitations. The latest variant is a sleeper train, with the first prototype rolling out in September 2024 and trials hitting 180 kmph in January 2025. This version will eventually replace Rajdhani trains on long-distance routes. The full speed potential of Vande Bharat trains is restricted by the existing railway network, which requires substantial upgrades to accommodate consistently higher speeds.