Indian Railways has made changes to the schedule of two Vande Bharat express trains departing from Varanasi. These trains include the Varanasi-Ranchi and Varanasi-Deoghar Vande Bharat Express. The new schedule will take effect on September 2, 2026, so passengers planning a trip are advised to check the updated timetable.
The Varanasi-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express will now depart from Varanasi railway station at 15:55 instead of the previous 16:05, which means a 10-minute earlier departure time. The stopping times at other stations after Varanasi remain unchanged. Train numbers 20888/20887 runs every day except Tuesday. This train covers a distance of about 536 kilometers between Varanasi and Ranchi in 7 hours and 50 minutes, making stops at 8 stations, including Din Dayal Upadhyaya, Sasaram, Gaya, Koderma, Hajari Bagh Road, Parasnath, Bokaro Steel City, and Muri.
The Varanasi-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 12, 2024, and its commercial service began on March 18, 2024. Operations and maintenance of the train are carried out by the South Eastern Railway zone. This was the 49th Vande Bharat express in the country. This train offers AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car classes. The ticket cost from Varanasi to Ranchi is 1,470 rupees for AC Chair Car and 2,695 rupees for Executive Chair Car.
The railway has also adjusted the schedule for the Varanasi-Deoghar Vande Bharat Express, number 22500. Starting from September 2, 2026, this train will depart from Varanasi railway station at 06:10 instead of 06:20, which is also a shift of 10 minutes earlier. Arrival and departure times at other stations after Varanasi remain unchanged, so passengers should pay close attention to the boarding time at Varanasi station.
This train is the 61st Vande Bharat express in the country, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conference from Ranchi on September 15, 2024. It makes stops at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Sasaram, Gaya, Nawada, Kiul, and Jasidih between Varanasi and Deoghar and runs six days a week. The distance between Varanasi and Deoghar is 456 km, and the journey takes 7 hours and 20 minutes. It also features AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car coaches; the ticket price is ₹1,355 for AC Chair Car and ₹2,415 for Executive Chair Car (EC).