The Ministry of Railways has greenlit a new semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express connecting Gujarat and Rajasthan, while simultaneously phasing out the Udaipur City-Asarva service.

  • New Vande Bharat Express (26903/26904) approved between Surat and Udaipur City.
  • The train will operate 6 days a week, excluding Tuesdays.
  • Udaipur City-Asarva Vande Bharat Express service has been discontinued.

The Ministry of Railways has taken a significant step in enhancing inter-state connectivity by approving the introduction of the Surat-Udaipur City Vande Bharat Express. This semi-high speed rail service aims to bridge the gap between the industrial hub of Gujarat and the tourist destination of Rajasthan. The operations and maintenance of the rake will be managed by the Western Railway (WR) zone.

According to an official letter dated August 31, the Railway Board has sanctioned the rollout of train numbers 26903/26904. The train is designed to cover a distance of approximately 690 km in 7 hours and 30 minutes, boasting a maximum operational speed of 160 kmph.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this shift indicates a data-driven approach by the Railway Board. By replacing the Udaipur City-Asarva route with the Surat-Udaipur corridor, the railways are optimizing fleet utilization based on passenger demand patterns. Connecting Surat—a global diamond and textile hub—to Udaipur—a premier tourism city—is expected to stimulate economic activity and regional tourism.

The strategic reallocation of Vande Bharat rakes reflects a transition toward demand-centric scheduling rather than mere expansion.

In a simultaneous move, the Railway Board has approved the discontinuation of train numbers 26963/26964 Udaipur City-Asarva Vande Bharat Express. This particular service, which was launched in February 2026, will no longer be operational, marking a swift pivot in the region's rail strategy.

The new Surat-Udaipur service will feature an 8-car coach composition. Train 26903 is scheduled to depart from Surat at 06:10 hrs, arriving in Udaipur City at 13:40 hrs. The return journey (26904) will depart Udaipur at 15:35 hrs and reach Surat by 23:00 hrs.

Feature New Service (Surat-Udaipur) Discontinued Service (Udaipur-Asarva)
Status Approved/Upcoming Discontinued
Travel Time 7 hours 30 minutes -
Key Hubs Surat, Vadodara, Udaipur Udaipur, Asarva

The train will have nine commercial stoppages: Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Maninagar, Asarva, Himmatnagar, Shamlaji Road, Dungarpur, and Zawar. Vadodara and Asarva have been designated as the primary watering stations for the rake.

Did You Know?: The Vande Bharat Express is India's first indigenous semi-high speed train, developed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: On which days will the Surat-Udaipur Vande Bharat operate?
A: The train will run six days a week, except for Tuesdays.

Q2: What is the maximum speed of the new Surat-Udaipur Vande Bharat?
A: The train can reach a maximum speed of 160 kmph.