Surat Gets Its First Vande Bharat to Udaipur

SURAT : Surat’s long-awaited Vande Bharat Express connection with Rajasthan is finally set to become a reality, bringing a major boost to travel between the diamond and textile hub and Udaipur. The Railway Ministry has approved the operation of a Surat-Udaipur Vande Bharat Express six days a week, giving passengers from central and south Gujarat a faster and more comfortable rail option.

The approval makes the new service Gujarat’s sixth Vande Bharat Express. According to the Railway Board’s order, the train will operate with eight coaches and remain off the tracks every Tuesday for maintenance.

The new service is expected to be introduced before the upcoming Navratri festival, raising expectations among passengers, traders and tourists in Surat and neighbouring districts.

The train’s primary maintenance facility will be located at Surat, while watering arrangements will be available at Asarwa, Vadodara and Ahmedabad stations.

The service is expected to particularly benefit traders travelling to Rajasthan, tourists visiting Udaipur and passengers from south Gujarat who currently depend on slower or less convenient connections.

The Railway Ministry has simultaneously announced a major change to the existing Vande Bharat network. The Udaipur City-Asarwa (Ahmedabad) Vande Bharat, train numbers 26963/26964, will be permanently discontinued in its existing form.

With the route now being extended and upgraded to Surat, the service will effectively operate as a Surat-Udaipur Vande Bharat Express.

The development is being seen as a significant upgrade for Surat’s rail connectivity, particularly ahead of the festive travel season.

For Surat’s business community and tourism sector, the new service is expected to provide a quicker link with Rajasthan while strengthening the city’s position as a major commercial and passenger hub in western India.