Copyright thehindu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (November 8, 2025) flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Banaras railway station in Varanasi. The four new Vande Bharat Express train routes are – Banaras-Khajuraho, Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi, and Ernakulam-Bengaluru. According to a press release issued by Southern Railway, the newly introduced Ernakulam–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will be the third Vande Bharat service for Kerala, linking the state with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. With this addition, a total of 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains will operate under the Southern Railway jurisdiction, it said. Meanwhile, the Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat will establish direct connectivity on this route and save about 2 hours 40 minutes compared to the special trains currently in operation. The Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat will cover the journey in approximately 7 hours 45 minutes, saving nearly 1 hour of travel time The Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat will be the fastest train on this route, completing the journey in just 6 hours 40 minutes. The Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express will strengthen connectivity between the national capital and key cities in Punjab, including Firozpur, Bathinda, and Patiala.
