Story by Harshit Uttam I Updated : 17 January 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off four Amrit Bharat Express trains on Saturday, linking New Jalpaiguri with Nagercoil and Tiruchirappalli, and Alipurduar with SMVT Bengaluru and Mumbai-Panvel. These modern trains feature a push-pull configuration with locomotives at both ends, enabling faster acceleration, smoother braking, and speeds of up to 130 kmph.
The PMO highlighted that the new services will boost affordable and reliable long-distance rail travel, catering to citizens, students, migrant workers, and traders, while reinforcing economic and social ties across states.
Key Features of Amrit Bharat Express
Passengers will benefit from upgraded seating, foldable snack tables, LED lighting, and fans with stainless-steel grills. Indian Railways noted that air-spring suspension bogies enhance ride stability, while an integrated passenger information system delivers real-time updates onboard.
Indian Railways has added mobile holders, glow-in-the-dark floor strips, and toilet occupancy indicators to the new coaches.
The train offers four toilets per coach — a mix of Indian and Western designs — with advanced pressurized flushing.
Safety features include aerosol-based fire suppression in electrical zones and toilets. Hygiene upgrades such as automatic soap dispensers and sealed gangways reduce dust exposure. Each seat comes with USB Type‑A and Type‑C charging ports, while exterior emergency lighting enhances security during unexpected halts.
Route Overview: New Amrit Bharat Express services include Alipurduar – SMVT Bengaluru, Alipurduar – Mumbai (Panvel), New Jalpaiguri – Nagercoil, and New Jalpaiguri – Tiruchirappalli.
Schedules and Stops
The New Jalpaiguri–Nagercoil Amrit Bharat Express (Train 20603) departs New Jalpaiguri every Wednesday at 4:45 PM, reaching Nagercoil at 11:00 PM on Friday. The return service (Train 20604) leaves Nagercoil at 11:00 PM on Sundays, arriving in New Jalpaiguri at 5:00 AM on Wednesday. Key stops include Madurai, Coimbatore, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kharagpur, Malda Town, and Kishanganj.
The New Jalpaiguri–Tiruchirappalli Amrit Bharat Express strengthens north–south connectivity. Train 20609 departs New Jalpaiguri on Fridays, arriving Sunday afternoon, while Train 20610 leaves Tiruchirappalli Wednesday morning, reaching New Jalpaiguri Friday morning. Along the way, it halts at major junctions like Chennai Egmore, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, and Malda Town.
The SMVT Bengaluru–Alipur Duar Amrit Bharat Express (Train 16597) departs Bengaluru every Saturday at 8:50 AM, arriving in Alipur Duar at 10:25 AM on Monday. The return service (Train 16598) leaves Alipur Duar at 10:25 PM on Mondays, reaching Bengaluru at 3:00 AM on Thursday. Major stops include Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kharagpur, Malda Town, New Jalpaiguri, and Siliguri.
The Alipurduar–Mumbai (Panvel) Amrit Bharat Express (Train 11031) departs Panvel every Monday at 11:50 AM, arriving in Alipurduar at 1:50 PM on Wednesday. The return service (Train 11032) leaves Alipurduar at 4:45 AM on Thursdays, reaching Panvel at 5:30 AM on Saturday. Major stops include Kalyan, Nasik Road, Bhusaval, Jabalpur, Prayagraj, Patliputra, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, New Jalpaiguri, and Siliguri.
Vande Bharat sleeper
In a separate event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper service, connecting Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) via Malda Town. The service will initially run between Guwahati and Kolkata.
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