Railway Board Approves New Daily Sabarmati-Varanasi Express Train

Ahmedabad: The Railway Board has approved a new Sabarmati-Varanasi Express, promising improved rail connectivity between Ahmedabad and the Purvanchal region of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The proposed daily service is expected to provide an additional travel option for passengers travelling between Gujarat and eastern UP.

As per the proposed timetable, Train No. 12206 will depart from Varanasi at 5.30 pm and arrive at Sabarmati at 8.15 pm the following day, covering the journey in around 26 hours and 45 minutes. In the reverse direction, Train No. 12205 will leave Sabarmati at 5.20 am and reach Varanasi at 6.30 am the next day, taking approximately 25 hours and 10 minutes.

The existing fastest option, the 22586 Ahmedabad-Varanasi Express, takes around 23 hours but operates weekly. The proposed Sabarmati-Varanasi Express will run daily, although its scheduled journey time will be longer in both directions, leaving scope for possible speed improvements.

The train will serve several important stations across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Its proposed commercial stoppages include Mirzapur, Subedarganj, Govindpuri, Tundla Junction, Idgah Agra Junction, Bharatpur, Nadbai, Kherli, Mandawar Mahwa Road, Bandikui, Gandhinagar Jaipur, Jaipur, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Beawar, Falna, Abu Road, Palanpur and Mehsana.

According to the proposed timetable, the train will reach Bandikui at 8.23 am and depart at 8.25 am. It will halt at Palanpur from 5.50 pm to 5.52 pm before reaching Sabarmati at 8.15 pm.

The Railway Board has directed the concerned railway zones to introduce the service at the earliest convenient date and give it wide publicity. An inaugural run may be operated as a special service before the regular service begins.

The train is proposed to operate with three Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) rakes, with primary maintenance at Varanasi. Jaipur has been designated as a watering station.

DeshGujarat