Indian Railways has officially announced major changes to the Vande Bharat network in Rajasthan to optimize operations. Authorities have decided to discontinue two underperforming routes originating from Udaipur City due to consistent low passenger occupancy. However, there is good news for commuters traveling to Gujarat, as the railway ministry will redeploy these resources to launch a new Vande Bharat Express connecting Udaipur City with Asarwa in Ahmedabad. The new service is scheduled to begin regular commercial operations on February 18, 2026.
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Which Vande Bharat trains are being stopped?
The North Western Railway (NWR) confirmed the withdrawal of the Udaipur City – Jaipur and Udaipur City – Agra Cantt Vande Bharat services. The Jaipur route (Train No. 20979/20980) will have its last operation on February 14, 2026. Meanwhile, the Agra Cantt service (Train No. 20981/20982), which only started in September 2024, will cease operations on February 15, 2026.
Officials noted that these routes struggled to meet ridership targets and had limited intermediate stops, which contributed to low occupancy. With the removal of the Udaipur service, the number of Vande Bharat trains serving Agra has now reduced to three. Bookings for these discontinued routes have already been closed for dates after the announced deadline.
What is the schedule for the new Udaipur-Asarwa route?
The new Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 26963/26964) offers a same-day return option for business travelers and tourists. It covers the distance of approximately 296 km in just 4 hours and 15 minutes, which is significantly faster than the existing express trains that take nearly 6 hours. The train will operate six days a week, running on all days except Tuesdays.
Amit Sudarshan, CPRO of NWR, stated that this route is designed to improve regional connectivity and boost the local economy. The train will have stoppages at Zawar, Dungarpur, and Himmat Nagar. Below is the official schedule for the new service:
| Station | Activity | Time |
| Udaipur City | Departure | 06:10 AM |
| Asarwa (Ahmedabad) | Arrival | 10:25 AM |
| Asarwa (Ahmedabad) | Departure | 05:45 PM |
| Udaipur City | Arrival | 10:00 PM |