The Ministry of Railways has approved a new Vande Bharat Express service connecting the diamond and textile hub of Surat in Gujarat with the lake city of Udaipur in Rajasthan. The approval was communicated through a Railway Board letter dated August 31, addressed to the General Managers (Operating) of Western Railway and North Western Railway, according to The Indian Express. The train will be maintained and operated by the Western Railway (WR) zone.
This will be Surat's first Vande Bharat Express, marking the sixth premium train service for Gujarat, as reported by India Today. The new train, numbered 26903/26904, will run six days a week between Surat and Udaipur City, with a break on Tuesdays. It will be an eight-coach service, departing Surat at 6:10 AM and arriving in Udaipur at 1:40 PM, covering the distance in about 7 hours and 30 minutes. The return journey will leave Udaipur at 3:35 PM and reach Surat at 11:00 PM, as per details reported by India Today.
Operational details
According to India Today, the train's primary maintenance facility will be in Surat, with water refilling stops at Vadodara and Ahmedabad's Asarwa stations. The Ministry of Railways has formally approved the service through a letter dated August 31, addressed to the General Managers (Operating) of Western Railway and North Western Railway, as reported by The Indian Express. The Railway Board's letter confirms the introduction of train numbers 26903/26904 Surat-Udaipur City Vande Bharat Express, and the service will be maintained and operated by the Western Railway zone.
Impact on existing services
The approval of the new route comes with the discontinuation of an existing Vande Bharat service: the 26963/26964 Udaipur City–Asarwa (Ahmedabad) Vande Bharat Express has been permanently discontinued, according to India Today.
Expected operational details
According to details carried by India Today, the eight-coach train will run six days a week, with a break on Tuesdays. It will depart Surat at 6:10 AM and arrive in Udaipur at 1:40 PM, making the journey in 7 hours 30 minutes. The return leg departs Udaipur at 3:35 PM and arrives in Surat at 11 PM. The primary maintenance facility will be in Surat, with water refills scheduled at Vadodara and Ahmedabad's Asarwa station.
The service, expected to begin before Navratri, will be maintained and operated by the Western Railway (WR) zone, according to a Railway Board letter dated August 31 addressed to the General Managers (Operating) of Western Railway and North Western Railway, which approved the introduction of the 26903/26904 Surat-Udaipur City Vande Bharat Express.
This will be Gujarat's sixth premium train, and the first Vande Bharat Express for the diamond and textile hub of Surat, offering a direct connection to Udaipur for travellers from central and south Gujarat. With a journey time of 7 hours and 30 minutes, the train departs Surat at 6:10 AM and arrives in Udaipur at 1:40 PM, with the return service departing Udaipur at 3:35 PM and arriving in Surat at 11 PM. It will run six days a week with a break on Tuesdays.
The approval coincides with the permanent discontinuation of the existing Udaipur–Asarwa (Ahmedabad) Vande Bharat Express, train number 26963/26964. Union Minister R. Patil welcomed the announcement, expressing confidence that the new service will boost tourism and trade between Gujarat and Rajasthan.