South Eastern Railway (SER) has announced its new time table for the year 2025, set to come into effect from 1st January. The updated schedule introduces several significant changes to enhance the railway services in the region, including the introduction of new Vande Bharat trains, extension of services, and adjustments in train frequencies.
Introduction of Vande Bharat Trains
As part of its modernization efforts, SER will launch multiple Vande Bharat Express services, which are expected to provide faster and more comfortable travel options. The new trains include:
- 20887/20888 Ranchi-Varanasi-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express
- 20891/20892 Tatanagar-Brahmapur-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express
- 20893/20894 Tatanagar-Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express
- 20871/20872 Howrah-Rourkela-Howrah Vande Bharat Express
- 21893/21894 Tatanagar-Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express
- 21895/21896 Tatanagar-Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express
These high-speed trains will improve connectivity and offer a more efficient travel experience.
Enhancements in Mail and Express Trains
In addition to the Vande Bharat services, several Mail and Express trains have been introduced or upgraded to better serve passengers. Notable additions include:
- 18051/18052 Badampahar-Rourkela-Badampahar Express
- 13434/13435 Malda Town-SMVT Bengaluru-Malda Town Amrit Bharat Express
- 18427/18428 Puri-Anand Vihar-Puri Express
- 13513/13514 Asansol-Hatia-Asansol Express
- 22358/22357 Gaya-LTT Mumbai-Gaya Express
These trains aim to provide increased connectivity between major cities and improve the efficiency of the existing network.
MEMU Passenger Trains
Several new MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) passenger trains have also been introduced to cater to regional commuting needs. These trains include:
- Rourkela-Tatanagar-Rourkela MEMU (1 pair)
- Baleshwar-Gopinathpur-Baleshwar MEMU (3 pairs)
These services are expected to enhance local connectivity for daily commuters.
Extension of Existing Services
As part of the new time table, several existing train services will be extended to new destinations to serve a broader range of passengers:
- 12513/12514 Secunderabad-Guwahati-Secunderabad Express extended to Silchar
- 18311/18312 Sambalpur-Varanasi-Sambalpur Express extended to Visakhapatnam
- 22605/22606 Purulia-Villupuram-Purulia Express extended to Tirunelveli
These extensions will increase travel options for passengers traveling to and from key regions.
Increase in Frequency of Trains
In response to growing demand, the 22503/22504 Kanniyakumari-Dibrugarh-Kanniyakumari Express will now run daily, providing passengers with more frequent travel options.
Train Diversions
Two key trains will be diverted to new routes as part of the updated schedule:
- 18010 Ajmer-Santragachi Express will be diverted to run via Gurla-Sogaria, avoiding Kota, effective from 5th January 2025.
- 20971 Udaipur City-Shalimar Express will also be diverted via Gurla-Sogaria from 4th January 2025.
These changes are expected to optimize train operations and improve travel efficiency.
Changes in Train Numbers and Departure Times
In a significant update, 173 MEMU and passenger trains, along with 2 Express trains, will be renumbered. Additionally, the departure times of 93 Mail/Express trains originating from key stations such as Howrah, Shalimar, Santragachi, Kharagpur, and Tatanagar will be changed to better accommodate passengers and improve operational efficiency.