Passengers travelling between Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra will get two new affordable long-distance train options from April 28, with Indian Railways set to introduce Amrit Bharat Express services on the Banaras–Hadapsar and Ayodhya Cantt–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) routes.

The trains, to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are aimed at easing travel on high-demand corridors while offering budget-friendly connectivity for migrant workers, daily passengers and pilgrims traveling to religious hubs such as Varanasi and Ayodhya.

Banaras–Hadapsar Amrit Bharat Express: Route and timings

The Banaras–Hadapsar Amrit Bharat Express will operate as a daily service, with its inaugural run scheduled for April 28 as train number 02531. The train will depart from Varanasi at 4:45 PM and connect northern and central India to Pune’s Hadapsar region.

The service will halt at 18 stations across multiple states, including Gyanpur Road, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Govindpuri, Orai, Jhansi, Bina, Rani Kamlapati, Narmadapuram, Itarsi, Harda, Khandwa, Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Manmad, Kopargaon, Ahilyanagar and Daund.

Railway officials said the train will have a total of 22 coaches, including 11 general class and eight sleeper class coaches, along with two SLR coaches and a pantry car, ensuring both affordability and basic onboard convenience for long-distance passengers.

Ayodhya Cantt–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai) Amrit Bharat Express

The second service, connecting Ayodhya to Mumbai, will also be inaugurated on April 28, operating as train number 02212 for its first run. It will depart from Ayodhya at 4:45 PM and terminate at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai.

During its journey, the train will stop at 12 stations, including Sultanpur, Maa Belha Devi Dham Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Manikpur, Satna, Jabalpur, Itarsi, Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Nashik, Kalyan and Thane.

Like the Banaras service, this train will also run with 22 coaches, primarily comprising general and sleeper class compartments, along with SLR coaches and a pantry car.

Railway officials said the new Amrit Bharat trains are designed as high-capacity, non-air-conditioned services that focus on affordability while improving speed compared to conventional trains. The routes are expected to reduce congestion on existing services between Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, one of the busiest corridors in the country.

The direct connectivity to Mumbai and Pune regions is likely to particularly benefit workers, students and pilgrims who currently rely on multiple train changes or waitlisted tickets on existing routes.