Vande Bharat Express: There is good news for railway passengers travelling between Rajasthan and Gujarat. Indian Railways is preparing to introduce a new Vande Bharat Express connecting Udaipur City and Surat, aimed at significantly reducing travel time between the two cities.
The Railway Board has approved the new service, which will operate under train numbers 26903 and 26904. The service is expected to begin before Sharadiya Navratri, which starts on October 11 this year.
The new train is expected to provide a faster alternative for passengers travelling between Udaipur and Surat, with the journey time coming down substantially compared with the existing service.
Udaipur-Surat Vande Bharat Express Approved
According to the approved plan, Train No. 26903 will operate from Surat to Udaipur City, while Train No. 26904 will run in the opposite direction, from Udaipur City to Surat.
The Railway Board approved the new service on August 31.
The introduction of this train will also bring a change to the existing Vande Bharat service operating between Udaipur City and Asarva (Ahmedabad).
Udaipur-Asarva Vande Bharat Service to Be Discontinued
Along with approving the new Surat-Udaipur route, the Railway Board has sanctioned the discontinuation of the Udaipur City-Asarva Vande Bharat Express, which operates under train numbers 26963/26964.
The Udaipur-Asarva service was introduced in February this year.
The new 26903/26904 Vande Bharat Express will follow the same route as the existing Udaipur-Asarva service up to Asarva. From there, the service will continue towards Surat.
In effect, the existing Udaipur-Asarva Vande Bharat route is being extended to Surat, with the service receiving new train numbers.
Udaipur to Surat Travel Time to Fall to 7.5 Hours
One of the biggest advantages of the new Vande Bharat service will be the reduction in travel time.
At present, the Udaipur City-Bandra Superfast Express is the only train directly connecting Udaipur City and Surat. It covers the approximately 694-km distance in around 13 hours.
The new Vande Bharat Express is expected to complete the same journey in approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes.
This means passengers could save more than five hours compared with the current direct train service.
Udaipur-Surat Vande Bharat Timetable
The new Vande Bharat Express will operate six days a week, with Tuesday being the weekly off day.
The proposed schedule is:
| Train | Route | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26903 | Surat → Udaipur City | 6:10 AM | 1:40 PM |
| 26904 | Udaipur City → Surat | 3:35 PM | 11:00 PM |
Passengers should note that the timetable may be subject to operational changes before the official launch.
Stations Where the Vande Bharat Will Stop
The new train will make scheduled stops at several important stations in both directions.
The proposed stops include:
- Bharuch
- Vadodara
- Anand
- Maninagar
- Asarva
- Himmatnagar
- Shamlaji Road
- Dungarpur
- Zawar
These stops will allow passengers from several cities and towns across Gujarat and southern Rajasthan to benefit from the faster service.
New Vande Bharat Before Navratri
The Railway Board is expected to introduce the new Udaipur-Surat Vande Bharat Express before Sharadiya Navratri, which begins on October 11.
The launch could therefore take place around the festival period, although the final inauguration date and operational details will need to be confirmed by Indian Railways.
For passengers travelling between Udaipur, Gujarat and Surat, the new Vande Bharat service could provide a significantly faster and more convenient travel option once operations begin.