Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off three new Amrit Bharat trains from Bengal during his forthcoming visit to the state on January 18. Railway officials said the new launches will serve critical suburban routes and spur economic activity. Here are the details of the new trains:
The Howrah-Anand Vihar Amrit Bharat Express (13065) will leave Howrah every Thursday at 23:10 hrs and reach Anand Vihar in Delhi at 02:50 hrs on Saturday. On the return direction, Anand Vihar-Howrah Amrit Bharat Express (13066) will leave Anand Vihar every Saturday at 05:15 hrs and will reach Howrah at 10:50 hrs on Sunday.
With halts at Bandel, Bardhaman, Durgapur, and Asansol, passengers from these areas will no longer need to travel to the main terminal in Kolkata to catch a high-quality long-distance train to the national capital.
Train number 22588 Banaras-Sealdah Amrit Bharat Express will leave Banaras every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday at 22:10 hrs and reach Sealdah at 09:55 hrs the next day.
During the return journey, train number 22587 Sealdah-Banaras Amrit Bharat Express will leave Sealdah every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 19:30 hrs and will reach Banaras at 07:20 hrs the next day.
With stops at Jasidih and Madhupur in Jharkhand, the train will promote religious tourism not only in Varanasi but other centres along the route.
Train number 16107 Tambaram-Santragachi Amrit Bharat Express will leave Tambaram in Tamil Nadu every Friday at 15:30 hrs and will reach Santragachi at 20:15 hrs the next day. During the return journey, train number 16108 Santragachi-Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express will leave Santragachi every Saturday at 23:55 hrs and will reach Tambaram at 10:00 hrs on the third day.
The Santragachi-Tambaram route can turn out to be a game-changer for the huge number of people from Howrah and South 24 Parganas who travel to Southern India for work and specialised healthcare.
The ‘common man’ in Bengal’s suburban towns often faces a choice between expensive AC travel or overcrowded general coaches.
Priced at approximately Rs 500 per 1,000 km, the Amrit Bharat trains will provide a premium experience at a fraction of the cost. With ergonomic seats, semi-sealed gangways, and jerk-free pull-push technology, the physical toll of long-distance travel is significantly reduced for passengers.
For small traders, the push-pull technology allows for faster acceleration and deceleration, cutting travel time. This means a trader from Durgapur can reach the markets of Delhi or Banaras faster and more reliably.
“The inclusion of CCTV surveillance, sensor-based taps, and bio-vacuum toilets ensures passengers can travel with dignity. These features, combined with the ‘Vande Bharat’-style aesthetics, will bring a sense of pride to the regional traveller, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of a future-ready railway,” said a railway official.