Indian Railways is set to boost connectivity between Rajasthan and Gujarat with the approval of a new Vande Bharat Express connecting Udaipur and Surat. The Ministry of Railways formalized this new service through an official Railway Board letter dated August 31, 2026, directed to the General Managers of Western Railway and North Western Railway. The introduction of this modern train fulfills a long-standing demand from the Mewar region for faster and more comfortable travel options to key commercial hubs in Gujarat. Local Member of Parliament Dr. Mannalal Rawat has expressed gratitude for the swift approval of this vital route.
Passengers can expect operations to commence shortly, with a targeted launch date just ahead of the Navratri festival starting on
October 11, 2026. The service will be designated as
train numbers 26903 and 26904 and will operate
six days a week, observing
Tuesday as the weekly off day.
Train 26903 is scheduled to depart Surat at 6:10 AM, arriving at Udaipur City at 1:40 PM. In the reverse direction,
train 26904 will depart Udaipur City at 3:35 PM and reach Surat by 11:00 PM.
The new semi-high-speed train will cover a total distance of
690 kilometers in approximately 7.5 hours. It will feature a modern
8-car Vande Bharat rake capable of reaching a maximum speed of 160 kmph. The train will make commercial stops at
Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Maninagar, Asarva, Himmatnagar, Shamlaji Road, Dungarpur, and Zawar. Estimated fare structures are set between
₹1,400 and ₹1,800 for chair car and between
₹2,600 and ₹3,200 for executive class. Maintenance of the rake will be managed by Western Railway, with primary maintenance based in Surat. Notably, the introduction of this extended route will result in the
discontinuation of the existing Udaipur City-Asarva Vande Bharat Express (train numbers 26963/26964), which has been operational since February 2026.
