Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi on November 8 to inaugurate four new Vande Bharat Express trains, marking another major step in India’s push toward modern, high-speed rail connectivity.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the new trains will link Banaras with Khajuraho, Lucknow with Saharanpur, Firozpur with Delhi, and Ernakulam with Bengaluru. The launch aims to make travel faster, more comfortable, and more accessible while boosting regional growth and tourism.
The Banaras–Khajuraho route will save nearly two hours and forty minutes compared to current services, offering direct, modern connectivity to important cultural and spiritual destinations like Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Chitrakoot. This route will also improve access to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho, giving a boost to religious and cultural tourism.
The Lucknow–Saharanpur train will cover the journey in about seven hours and forty-five minutes, cutting an hour off travel time. It will benefit passengers across central and western Uttar Pradesh, connecting cities such as Sitapur, Bareilly, and Moradabad, and improving access to Haridwar via Roorkee.
The Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat will be the fastest on that route, taking just six hours and forty minutes to complete the trip. It is expected to strengthen links between Delhi and key cities in Punjab, including Bathinda and Patiala, supporting trade, employment, and regional integration.
In the south, the Ernakulam–Bengaluru train will reduce travel time by more than two hours, completing the journey in eight hours and forty minutes. By connecting major commercial and technology hubs across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, the route will make travel more efficient for professionals, students, and tourists while promoting inter-state economic activity.
The Vande Bharat Express project continues to be a centerpiece of the government’s effort to modernize India’s railway network, offering passengers a blend of speed, comfort, and reliability while linking major cities and regions more effectively.
