The city of Surat, known as the diamond and textile hub, has received its first Vande Bharat Express high-speed train service. The Ministry of Railways has officially approved the operation of this train six days a week between Surat and Lake City Udaipur. This decision will directly benefit residents traveling from central and southern Gujarat to Rajasthan.
This announcement from the railways marks the sixth premium service for the state of Gujarat. According to the railway council's directive, the train will consist of 8 coaches. There is a high probability that this train will commence operations before the upcoming Navratri festivals, generating significant excitement among tourists and passengers from Surat and southern Gujarat.
The train will run between Surat and Udaipur six days a week, with service suspended every Tuesday. The route from Surat departs at 6:10 AM and arrives in Udaipur at 1:40 PM, while the departure from Udaipur is at 3:35 PM, reaching Surat at 11:00 PM. Thus, the distance between Surat and Udaipur will now be covered in just 7.5 hours.
The primary technical maintenance for this train will be conducted in Surat, while water replenishment facilities will be available at Asarwa and Ahmedabad stations in Vadodara. The launch of this train will make journeys faster and more comfortable for traders, tourists, and passengers heading to Rajasthan.
The Ministry of Railways introduced an important change along with the approval of the new train. Under the new schedule, it was decided to permanently cancel the previously operating train number 26963/26964, which ran between Udaipur City and Asarwa (Ahmedabad) Vande Bharat Express. This service was launched in February of this year.
As the railway council extended this route to Surat and upgraded its class, the train will now operate between Surat and Udaipur, not just from Asarwa. Union Minister of Water Resources S. R. Patil announced on social media that the railway council has approved the operation of the new Vande Bharat Express between Surat and Udaipur. This modern train, running six days a week, will soon begin serving passengers.
This new railway service will ensure a faster, safer, and more convenient journey between Gujarat and Rajasthan, while also giving a new impetus to the development of tourism, trade, and social connections.