Indian Railways is set to improve high-speed connectivity across northern and central India with the launch of three new Vande Bharat Express trains on November 7, 2025. According to Northern Railways, the new trains will connect Varanasi–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur, and Firozpur–Delhi.
The Varanasi–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express will be flagged off in person by the Prime Minister at Varanasi Railway Station at 7:25 pm, while the other two trains will be virtually inaugurated via an electronic system installed at the venue.
Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express
Train number 26504 will leave Lucknow Junction at 5:00 AM, stopping at Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Najibabad, and Roorkee, before arriving in Saharanpur at 12:45 PM.
On the return route, train number 26503 will depart Saharanpur at 3:00 PM and reach Lucknow around 11:00 PM. Primary maintenance will take place at Lucknow Junction, while Moradabad station will manage water supply and technical checks.
This service marks Saharanpur’s second Vande Bharat, following the Delhi–Dehradun route.
Varanasi–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express
Train number 26422 will depart from Varanasi Cantt Station at 5:25 AM, stopping at stations including Vindhyachal (6:55 AM), Prayagraj Chheoki (8:00 AM), Chitrakoot Dham (10:05 AM), Banda (11:08 AM), and Mahoba (12:08 PM) before reaching Khajuraho at 1:10 PM.
On the return journey, train number 26421 will leave Khajuraho at 3:00 PM and reach Varanasi by 11:00 PM, halting briefly at Mahoba, Banda, Chitrakoot Dham, Prayagraj Chheoki, and Vindhyachal.
The service will operate six days a week, with the start date expected shortly.
Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat Express
The Firozpur–Delhi (Train Nos. 26462/26461) service will further improve rail access between Punjab and the national capital. Detailed timings and stop details will be released by the Railways soon.
