Guwahati: In a major push to enhance long-distance rail connectivity, Indian Railways will soon roll out nine Amrit Bharat Express services from Assam and West Bengal, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.
Sharing details on the social media platform X, Vaishnaw announced that the new services will link destinations in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra with West Bengal and Assam.
The upcoming routes include Guwahati (Kamakhya)–Rohtak, Dibrugarh–Lucknow (Gomti Nagar), New Jalpaiguri–Nagercoil, New Jalpaiguri–Tiruchirappalli, Alipurduar–SMVT Bengaluru, Alipurduar–Mumbai (Panvel), Kolkata (Santragachi)–Tambaram, Kolkata (Howrah)–Anand Vihar Terminal and Kolkata (Sealdah)–Banaras.
The Railway Ministry said the introduction of these services is part of Indian Railways’ ongoing effort to expand affordable long-distance connectivity across key corridors. It added that the Amrit Bharat Express has emerged as a significant benefit for everyday passengers.
Officials said the trains, conceived as a special initiative during the Amrit Kaal period, offer non-AC long-distance sleeper class travel at economical fares of around Rs 500 per 1,000 kilometres, with proportionately lower fares for short- and medium-distance journeys. The services aim to bridge regions often separated by geography and limited connectivity.
The ministry noted that since the launch of the Amrit Bharat Express in December 2023, 30 such trains have already become operational, and the addition of nine more services within a week marks a major expansion of the network.
According to the ministry, the new trains will strengthen rail links from the eastern and sub-Himalayan regions to major destinations in southern, western and central India.
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Highlighting passenger amenities, officials said the Amrit Bharat Express trains are equipped with foldable snack tables, mobile phone and bottle holders, radium floor strips, comfortable seating and berths, and modern toilets with electro-pneumatic flushing systems. The coaches also feature fire suppression mechanisms, facilities for divyangjan passengers, fast charging points and pantry cars to enhance long-distance travel comfort.
