Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday flagged off the Nanded-Mumbai and Tanakpur-Nanded Express trains, besides inaugurating the extension of the Tanakpur-Pilibhit train service up to Shahjahanpur through video conferencing from Bhubaneswar. According to The Times of India, Vaishnaw launched these new services from Rail Sadan in Bhubaneswar while reviewing the railways' preparations for the upcoming Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri. The minister emphasized that these services would improve rail connectivity and benefit passengers, particularly the Sikh community in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Speaking at the event via video conference, Vaishnaw highlighted that "There was a long-standing demand for a train from Tanakpur to Nanded Sahib, Hazur Sahib. It will benefit the large Sikh community in the Terai regions of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Everyone wishes to stay connected to the 'Panj Takht', and this railway connectivity will fulfil that sentiment."
As reported by The Times of India, Vaishnaw addressed the event and highlighted that the newly launched train services would improve rail connectivity and benefit passengers, particularly the Sikh community in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The minister specifically noted that "There was a long-standing demand for a train from Tanakpur to Nanded Sahib, Hazur Sahib. It will benefit the large Sikh community in the Terai regions of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Everyone wishes to stay connected to the 'Panj Takht', and this railway connectivity will fulfil that sentiment." The Nanded-Mumbai Express will improve connectivity for several districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada with Mumbai, while some train services connecting Pilibhit, Agra and Tanakpur have also been launched. The Tanakpur-Nanded Express Train Service will improve direct rail connectivity between northern hill regions and central India, making travel easier for passengers across multiple states. Vaishnaw also announced that "The demand that has come for Khatima and Banbasa will be examined fully in the next few days. If it becomes possible, we will definitely provide a stoppage for this train at Khatima and Banbasa."
The Nanded-Mumbai Express train will connect important cities and towns including Nanded, Purna, Basmat, Hingoli Deccan, Washim, Akola, Malakapur, Bhusaval, Chalisgaon, Manmad, Nasik Road, Igatpuri, Kalyan, and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. The Tanakpur-Nanded Express Train Service will pass through Tanakpur, Khatima, Pilibhit, Izzatnagar, Bareilly Jn, Badaun, Kasganj, Mathura Jn, Agra Cantt, Dholpur, Gwalior Jn, Virangana Laxmibai Jhansi, Lalitpur Jn, Bina, Rani Kamalapati, Itarsi, Khandwa Jn, Malkapur, Akola Jn, Washim, Hingoli, Basmat, Purna Jn and Nanded. The extended Tanakpur-Pilibhit service will now reach Shahjahanpur, benefiting daily passengers by improving access to more towns in Uttar Pradesh and reducing the need for multiple train changes. Vaishnaw noted that "The train would be better for connectivity of regions like Washim, Hingoli and Basmat, helping passengers from Marathwada and Vidarbha."
According to The Times of India, Vaishnaw announced that the Tanakpur-Pilibhit train service had been extended up to Shahjahanpur in UP and said the Tanakpur-Agra service, which earlier operated as a special train, had now been regularised. The minister highlighted the achievements of the railways over the past 12 years, stating that around 37,000 km of new tracks had been laid, while electrification had reached 99.6 per cent. Vaishnaw emphasized that "In past 12 years, an effort for transformation of the railways is going on. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given special attention to the railways, due to which today about 37,000 km of new railway tracks have been built. Never before in India's history has such development of railways taken place. This is a very big achievement for the country and was a very big need for the country. Along with this, electrification of the railways has reached 99.6%." He also announced that the bullet train project is moving at a rapid pace and will start next year, with the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors completed and work on new east-west freight corridors connecting Dankuni to Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh underway. Vaishnaw mentioned that "The Railways continues to give priority to affordable travel and out of the 12,000 general coaches being manufactured, about 4,000 have been attached to trains."
As reported by The Times of India, Vaishnaw announced that the railways would operate more than 300 special trains during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri and said over 100 special trains would also be operated during the Onam festival in Kerala. The minister highlighted that the railway network in Odisha would undergo a major transformation as projects worth more than ₹90,000 crore were being implemented there. Vaishnaw also revealed that around 15,000 special trains were operated during the summer season ending June 30, calling it a historic initiative. He emphasized that "Special attention is being given to the fact that railways is the ride of the poor and middle-class families. That's why a lot of attention has been given to increasing our affordable services as much as possible. Instead of premium services, the focus is more on affordable services."
