Surat Gets Its First Vande Bharat Express to Udaipur City Starting Soon
The Railway Board has officially approved the introduction of the Surat–Udaipur City Vande Bharat Express, marking a historic milestone as the first time Surat will host an originating and terminating Vande Bharat service. The approval was formalized in a letter dated August 31, 2026, paving the way for operations to commence before Shardiya Navratri around October 11, 2026. This newly approved service will replace the existing Udaipur City–Asarva Vande Bharat Express that has been operational since February 2026. Key highlights of this upcoming route include a six-day operational schedule, a distance of approximately 690 kilometers covered in just 7 hours and 30 minutes, and eight-coach rakes designed to boost travel comfort between Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Schedule and Route Details
The upcoming semi-high-speed train is designated with service number 26903 from Surat to Udaipur City and service number 26904 from Udaipur City to Surat. The train will operate six days a week, with Tuesday designated as the weekly maintenance off day. According to provisional schedules, train 26903 will depart Surat at 6:10 AM and arrive in Udaipur City at 1:40 PM. For the return journey, train 26904 will depart Udaipur City at 3:35 PM and reach Surat at 11:00 PM. The service will utilize an eight-coach rake and stop at several important intermediate halts including Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Maninagar, Asarva, Himmatnagar, Shamlaji Road, Dungarpur, and Zawar.
Maintenance and Fares
Operations and maintenance responsibilities will be shared between the Western Railway and North Western Railway zones. Primary maintenance facilities have been established in Surat, while essential watering facilities will be available at Vadodara and Ahmedabad's Asarva stations. While final ticket pricing is yet to be officially announced, provisional chair car fares are estimated between ₹1,400 and ₹1,800, and executive class fares are expected to range from ₹2,600 to ₹3,200. Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil has welcomed this major infrastructure development, which is expected to significantly boost tourism, trade, and seamless connectivity between Gujarat and Rajasthan while giving Surat residents a direct rail link to Udaipur.