Surat Udaipur Vande Bharat Express to start operations before Navratri

The Ministry of Railways has officially approved the launch of a brand new semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express connecting the vibrant textile hub of Surat with the city of lakes, Udaipur. The new service is scheduled to commence operations before the Navratri festival begins on October 11, 2026, following a formal letter of approval dated August 31. This development promises to bring massive relief to frequent travellers by slashing the journey time drastically from the current 13 hours down to approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes. Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil announced this major approval, attributing the new railway gift to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Here are the key details you need to know about the new Surat-Udaipur Vande Bharat Express route: Train number 26903 will depart Surat at 6:10 AM and reach Udaipur at 1:40 PM. Train number 26904 will leave Udaipur at 3:35 PM and arrive back in Surat at 11:00 PM. The modern train will operate six days a week with Tuesday designated as the weekly off day.

Schedule and Commercial Halts

To ensure smooth connectivity across Gujarat and Rajasthan, the eight-coach semi-high-speed train will feature strategic commercial halts. Passengers can board or deboard at Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Maninagar, Asarwa, Himmatnagar, Shamlaji Road, Dungarpur, and Zawar. The efficient operation and maintenance of this modern rake will be jointly handled by the Western Railway and North Western Railway zones. While primary maintenance of the trainset will be carried out at Surat, designated water refilling stations have been established at Vadodara and Asarwa to ensure a comfortable passenger experience throughout the journey.

Impact on Existing Services

With the introduction of this faster and more direct route, railway authorities have announced a major structural change. The existing Udaipur City-Asarva Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express operating under train numbers 26963 and 26964 will be permanently discontinued. This older service had been serving passengers since February 2026. The new Surat-Udaipur Vande Bharat link is expected to significantly boost regional tourism, trade, and daily commuting convenience, offering a world-class travel experience for passengers travelling between Gujarat and Rajasthan.