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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Varanasi-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express later this week, marking another addition to India's expanding semi-high-speed rail network. The train will operate six days a week, covering 443 km in about 7 hours 40 minutes. It will connect major cities and pilgrimage points such as Vindhyachal, Prayagraj Chheoki, Chitrakut Dham, Banda, and Mahoba. This will be the fifth Vande Bharat Express originating from Varanasi, aimed at improving tourism and easing travel between eastern Uttar Pradesh and central Madhya Pradesh.
The Indian Railways will introduce a new semi-high-speed service between Varanasi and Khajuraho, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi later this week. The Varanasi-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express (train numbers 26422 and 26421) is designed to cut travel time and improve rail connectivity between two major tourist and cultural destinations. Advertisement
The train departing from Varanasi will leave at 05:25 and reach Khajuraho at 13:10, while the return service will start from Khajuraho at 15:20 and reach Varanasi by 23:00. Covering 443 kilometres in around 7 hours 40 minutes, the service is expected to significantly reduce journey time compared to existing trains on the route. The train will run six days a week, with one maintenance day every week.
The route includes stoppages at important stations such as Vindhyachal, Prayagraj Chheoki, Chitrakut Dham, Banda, and Mahoba, making it accessible for pilgrims and tourists visiting these destinations. The Vande Bharat train is known for its air-conditioned coaches, automatic doors, modern safety features, and comfortable seating arrangement. Railway officials said that the new service is expected to benefit both domestic and foreign tourists visiting the UNESCO World Heritage temples at Khajuraho and the spiritual sites of Varanasi.
This train will be the fifth Vande Bharat Express originating from Varanasi, after routes connecting Delhi, Patna, Ranchi, and Lucknow. The first Vande Bharat Express in India was flagged off between Varanasi and New Delhi in 2019, which became a model for the expansion of high-speed rail services across the country. With each new route, the Railways aims to improve regional mobility and promote tourism by linking key religious and heritage locations.
In addition to the Varanasi-Khajuraho launch, Indian Railways is preparing to introduce several new Vande Bharat routes in the coming months, including Lucknow-Saharanpur and Delhi-Firozpur. The expansion is part of a larger plan to increase the reach of modern, efficient train services that support economic growth and travel within smaller cities and religious towns.
The Prime Minister's visit to Varanasi will also include interactions with local party representatives and review meetings on ongoing infrastructure projects in the region. Officials expect that the launch will draw attention to the importance of linking tourist and spiritual destinations through modern transport networks.
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