Starting from January 1, 2027, 18 trains will cease to have superfast status, transitioning to the category of ordinary express trains. Among these consists are 'Purnagiri Jan Shatabdi', 'Saptkranti', and 'Shramjivi Express'. Furthermore, the numbers of these trains will be changed.
The elimination of the superfast status will mean that passengers will no longer have to pay an additional surcharge, and ticket prices will decrease. This decision was made after an analysis conducted in accordance with the rules of the Railway Council.
According to the Railway Council regulations, for a train to receive superfast status, its average speed must be at least 55 kilometers per hour. This speed is calculated by dividing the total distance by the total travel time, considering the average speed in both the direction of travel and the return journey. During the inspection by the Railway Service, it was found that the average speed of these trains did not meet the established standards, leading to the decision to reclassify them as ordinary expresses.
After the change in status for trains previously holding superfast status, the Superfast Surcharge, which was charged to passengers in addition to the ticket price, will be abolished. Passengers will receive financial benefits depending on the class of service: a discount of 30 rupees in sleeper coaches, 45 rupees in Third AC, Third AC Economy, Second AC, and AC Chair Car classes, and up to 75 rupees in First AC and Executive Class. Thus, when purchasing tickets, passengers will have to pay less than before.
The Railway Service conducts an annual review of schedules and train arrival times, assessing their punctuality and average speed. Based on this data, it is determined which trains will retain superfast status and which will be classified as ordinary expresses. According to officials, a train's speed can decrease due to increased stops on the route, increased traffic on the line, or other operational factors, leading to constant delays and an inability to meet the average speed standard for a superfast train.
A table has been compiled with details for the 18 trains whose category will change. It specifies the route number, the old and new train number. For example, the Tankapur – Delhi Junction route now has the number 15317, and the return route is 15318. The numbers for trains between Dehradun – Katgodam, Muradabad – Ramnagar, Islampur – New Delhi, Darbhanga – Jalandhar City, Patliputra – Chandigarh, and others have also changed.
The change in train numbers requires special attention from passengers traveling between Delhi, Bihar, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Specifically, on the routes Tankapur-Delhi, Dehradun-Katgodam, Muzaffarpur-Anand Vihar, and Rajgir-New Delhi, the train numbers will change. Passengers using these routes should be sure to check the new train number when booking tickets after January 1, 2027, to avoid issues with searching or planning their trip.
