New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi on November 8 to flag off four new Vande Bharat Express trains, marking another step in India’s modern rail expansion.

Officials said this initiative aims to make rail travel faster, more comfortable, and accessible for passengers nationwide.

The new trains will run on the Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur, Firozpur–Delhi, and Ernakulam–Bengaluru routes. Each train will reduce travel time and improve regional connectivity, promoting tourism and economic growth.

The Banaras–Khajuraho train will cut travel time by nearly 2 hours and 40 minutes. It will connect key spiritual and cultural centres such as Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho, offering pilgrims a quick and comfortable route to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Lucknow–Saharanpur service will complete its journey in about 7 hours and 45 minutes, saving nearly an hour. It will benefit passengers from Lucknow, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, and other major towns, while improving access to Haridwar via Roorkee.

The Firozpur–Delhi train will be the fastest on its route, covering the journey in just 6 hours and 40 minutes. It will enhance links between Delhi and Punjab’s cities like Firozpur, Bathinda, and Patiala, boosting trade and tourism in the border region.

In the south, the Ernakulam–Bengaluru train will complete its trip in 8 hours and 40 minutes, cutting over two hours of travel time. The service will connect key IT and commercial centres, promoting greater economic and tourism activity across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.