New Santragachi-Khatipura Express for Khatu Shyam Ji Pilgrims
Indian Railways approves the weekly Santragachi-Khatipura Express to facilitate pilgrimage to Khatu Shyam Ji starting October 2026.
Indian Railways has officially approved the launch of the Santragachi Khatipura Express, a new weekly service specifically designed to assist devotees traveling to the Khatu Shyam Ji Dham in Rajasthan. This new rail link aims to provide seamless connectivity for pilgrims and residents across several states.
Inauguration and Launch Details
The new service, operating under train numbers 18061 and 18062, is scheduled to commence operations on October 26, 2026. The inaugural service will be flagged off by Jamshedpur Member of Parliament Bidyut Baran Mahto at the Tatanagar Railway Station at 5:50 PM. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to participate in the ceremony virtually.
Route and Key Station Stops
The train will traverse through West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, offering vital connectivity to numerous regions. Key stations along the route include:
- Tatanagar
- Ranchi
- Chandil
- Purulia
- Muri
- Lohardaga
- Latehar
- Daltonganj
- Garhwa Road
- Dehri-on-Sone
- Sasaram
Official Weekly Train Schedule
To help passengers plan their journeys, the following schedule has been released for the new weekly services:
18061 Santragachi to Khatipura Weekly Express
The 18061 service will depart from Santragachi every Wednesday at 2:15 PM. It is scheduled to arrive at Tatanagar at 5:50 PM for a five-minute halt, eventually reaching Khatipura at 11:00 PM the following day.
18062 Khatipura to Santragachi Weekly Express
The return journey, 18062, will depart from Khatipura every Friday at 9:20 AM. The train is expected to arrive at Tatanagar at 3:05 PM the next day, before reaching its final destination at Santragachi at 7:45 PM.
Boosting Regional Connectivity and Trade
The approval for this new service follows strong advocacy from Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahto and Palamu MP Vishnu Dayal Ram. Beyond supporting religious tourism, the new link is expected to drive economic growth in the Palamu and Garhwa regions.
"This new rail link is expected to provide significant support for education, employment, and trade in the Palamu and Garhwa regions," stated MP Vishnu Dayal Ram, while expressing his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Railway Minister.