Indian Railways has officially regularized the Dadar-Gorakhpur special train service, transitioning it from a special category to a permanent express service. This major decision was confirmed by Northern Railway and Central Railway following sustained advocacy from Gorakhpur Member of Parliament Ravi Kishan and final validation by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Passengers travelling between Mumbai and the Purvanchal region will now benefit from permanent scheduling and significantly reduced ticket prices.
With this regularization, the previous special service numbers 01027 and 01028 have been permanently replaced by 11047 and 11048. Train No. 11047 (Dadar-Gorakhpur Jn Express) began operating under its new status on August 18, 2026, departing Dadar at 2:05 PM every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, and arriving at Gorakhpur Junction at 2:55 AM on the third day. The return service, Train No. 11048 (Gorakhpur Jn-Dadar Express), commenced on August 20, 2026, departing Gorakhpur at 2:20 PM every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with an arrival at Dadar at 3:35 AM on the third day.
Coach Composition and Route Details
According to Gorakhpur Railway CPRO Sumit Kumar, the train features a robust 17-coach composition, which includes one AC 2-Tier, three AC 3-Tier, seven Sleeper Class, four General Second Class, and two Second Seating cum Guard Brake Vans.
Key halts along this extensive route include Kalyan Jn, Nashik Road, Bhusaval Jn, Harda, Itarsi Jn, Rani Kamalapati, Bina Jn, Lalitpur, Tikamgarh, Khajuraho, Maharaja Chhatrasal Station Chhatarpur, Mahoba Jn, Banda, Chitrakoot, Manikpur Jn, Prayagraj Jn, Gyanpur Road, Banaras, Varanasi, Aunrihar, Mau, Bhatni, and Deoria Sadar. The official inclusion of Aunrihar Junction as a permanent halt is a notable addition to this updated route, benefiting local commuters immensely.
Relief for Passengers with Reduced Fares
The regularization brings immense relief to thousands of passengers who frequently travel between Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh for employment, education, and medical purposes. By removing the dynamic and higher special category surcharges, fares are anticipated to decrease by approximately 30 percent, making journeys much more affordable and accessible for everyday travellers.