Indian Railways has extended the popular Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express train all the way to Varanasi, providing a major boost to connectivity across key cities in Uttar Pradesh.
Vande Bharat Gets a New Destination
The Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express has been a significant success since its introduction, consistently running with full occupancy. This semi-high-speed train, operated by the Northern Railway zone, is already recognized as the country’s 54th Vande Bharat service.
Now, rail passengers can look forward to an even longer journey. Indian Railways has confirmed that this popular service will be extended to Varanasi Junction. This means the train will now run as the Meerut City-Varanasi-Meerut City Vande Bharat Express.
According to a senior railway official, this important extension will take effect from August 27.
Your New Travel Schedule
The extended Meerut-Varanasi-Meerut Vande Bharat Express will operate under new train numbers: 22490/22489.
Train number 22490, the Meerut-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express, will depart from Meerut City at 6:35 AM. It is scheduled to arrive at Varanasi Junction by 6:25 PM, offering a comfortable day-long journey.
For the return trip, train number 22489, the Varanasi-Meerut Vande Bharat Express, will leave Varanasi Junction at 9:10 AM. Passengers can expect to reach Meerut City at 9:05 PM.
Key Stops Along the Way
En route to Varanasi, the Vande Bharat Express will make convenient stops at four crucial railway stations. These stops ensure connectivity for a wider range of commuters and travelers.
The designated stoppages include Moradabad Junction, Bareilly Junction, Lucknow Charbagh, and the spiritual hub of Ayodhya Dham Junction.
Boosting Connectivity and Tourism
This extension of the Vande Bharat Express is poised to deliver significant benefits. It will greatly enhance tourism, connecting historical and cultural cities such as Meerut, Ayodhya, Lucknow, and Varanasi with greater ease.
Beyond tourism, the service will also improve accessibility to various educational institutions, benefiting students and academics. Furthermore, this enhanced rail link is expected to stimulate regional trade and economic activities across these important corridors of Uttar Pradesh.
- The Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express has been extended to Varanasi Junction.
- The extended service will commence from August 27.
- New train numbers are 22490 (Meerut-Varanasi) and 22489 (Varanasi-Meerut).
- Key stoppages include Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, and Ayodhya.
- The extension aims to boost tourism, education access, and regional trade.
This strategic move by Indian Railways underscores its commitment to improving connectivity and fostering economic growth across the country’s diverse regions.
