Introduction of New Trains during the period of 2025-19 and 2025-20
To facilitate passengers, Indian Railways, during the period 2025-19 & 2025-20, has introduced new services, as detailed below:-
| Year | Trains introduced ( in single) |
| 2025-19 | 266 |
| 2025-20 | 153 |
It is a continual endeavour of Indian Railways (IR) to upgrade train services and to provide improved facilities to the passengers. To this end, Indian Railways have introduced premium services like Vande Bharat Express, Humsafar, Tejas, Antyodaya, Utkrisht Double Decker Air-conditioned Yatri (UDAY), to provide better travelling experience to the passengers as detailed below:
- Vande Bharat Express: These State-of-the-art Train-set Vande Bharat services have been introduced on New Delhi – Varanasi and New Delhi- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra sectors. These trains have ultra modern features like quick acceleration, on board infotainment and Global Positioning System (GPS) based passenger information system, automatic sliding doors, retractable footsteps and Zero discharge vacuum bio toilets etc.
- Tejas Express services: In all 04 pairs of Tejas Express services have been introduced over Indian Railways system. Two of these namely 22119 / 22120 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus –Karmali Tejas Express and 22671 / 22672 Chennai Egmore – Madurai Jn Tejas Express are being run by Indian Railways, while the other two Tejas trains namely, 82501 / 82502 Lucknow-New Delhi Tejas Express & 82901 / 82902 Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Tejas Express are operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
- UDAY Services: Utkrisht Double-Decker Air-conditioned Yatri (UDAY) Express have been operationalized. In all, 02 pairs of UDAY services namely 22665 / 22666 Bangalore City – Coimbatore UDAY Express & 22701 / 22702 Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada jn. UDAY Express have been introduced over Indian Railways.
- Other premium services like Humsafar, Tejas, Antyodaya, Utkrisht Double Decker Air-conditioned Yatri (UDAY), Mahamana and coaches like Deen Dayalu and Anubhuti, which have upgraded interiors / exteriors and improved passenger amenities, have been introduced in service in various train services over Indian Railways.
- IR ìs manufacturing only Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, which are technologically superior and have better riding, aesthetics and safety features than conventional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) type coaches. Production Units of IR have stopped the manufacturing of ICF type coaches and are manufacturing only LHB coaches from the year 2025-19 onwards.
- Vista dome coaches provide panoramic view, through wider body side windows as well as through transparent sections in the roof, thus enabling the passengers to enjoy the scenic beauty of the places through which they travel. Recently, Vista dome coaches on LHB platform have been manufactured with several modern features / amenities.
- IR had also launched Project Utkrisht in April 2025 in order to improve the condition of ICF type coaches running in Mail / Express trains. Upgradation of 447 rakes of Mail / Express trains has been completed, till December 2025, under Project Utkrisht.
- Under Project Swarn, 65 rakes of Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains have been upgraded across multiple dimensions, which include coach interiors, toilets, onboard cleanliness, staff behaviour, linen, etc.
- 63 smart coaches with ultra modern features like Smart Public address and passenger information system, Smart HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system), Smart security and surveillance system etc. have been manufactured and introduced in service.
- Conversion of End-On-Generation (EOG) trains into Head-On-Generation (HOG) trains to reduce noise and air pollution at stations and in trains. It is expected to significantly reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
- Conventional lighting in coaches has been replaced with modern and energy efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights.
- IR has also been providing increased number of mobile charging points in coaches.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the major new train introductions in India from 2025 through mid‑2025, highlighting transformative developments in the Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and other premium services:
Contents
🟢 Vande Bharat Express Routes (2025–2025)
- Gorakhpur → Prayagraj Junction (Train 22549/22550)
Inaugurated on 7 July 2025 and commercially launched 9 July 2025, connecting Gorakhpur via Ayodhya to Prayagraj (~500 km in ~7 h 30 m) - Howrah → Bhagalpur (22309/22310) and Varanasi → Deoghar (22499/22500)
Both launched on 15 September 2025, expanding Vande Bharat service to eastern India with efficient travel (~6–7 hours) - Chennai Egmore → Nagercoil (20627/20628)
Flagged off on 31 August 2025, this train links Chennai to Nagercoil in just ~8 h 40 m, making the southern tip more accessible - New Delhi → Varanasi (20‑coach Vande Bharat 22435/22436) and Nagpur → Secunderabad (20101/20102)
These full‑length rakes began operations in 2024, offering high-capacity, high-speed travel (~7–8 hours journey styles) - Anand Vihar Terminal → Ayodhya Cantt. (22425/22426)
India’s 36th Vande Bharat Express, inaugurated 30 December 2025, began commercial service in January 2025, running six days a week over ~628 km in ~8 h 20 m
🟢 Key Developments in 2025
- Udhampur–Srinagar Vande Bharat on USBRL route
As part of the newly opened Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, two Vande Bharat pairs were launched on 5 June 2025, boosting Kashmir’s connectivity significantly - Pune-based Vande Bharat fleet expansion
In mid-July 2025, four new Vande Bharat routes originating from Pune were announced—linking Pune to Shegaon, Vadodara, Secunderabad, and Belagavi—along with an upcoming sleeper variant for overnight Pune–Nagpur service
🟢 Amrit Bharat & Namo Bharat (Mid‑Distance Transit Focus)
- Amrit Bharat Express Trains
Introduced in 2025 and early 2025, four initial rakes were rolled out (e.g. Darbhanga–Anand Vihar, Malda Town–Lucknow), featuring amenities for economical middle‑class travel. As of July 2025, seven rakes are operational, with plans for up to 100 new trains across the country - Namo Bharat Rapid Rail
The RRTS corridor over 55 km between Delhi and Meerut began operations in late 2025, with full corridor opening expected by June 2025. These trains operate at 110 km/h and serve as premium mid-distance connectors
🟢 Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains (Upcoming)
- Conceptualized for 2024 and under testing, initial 16-car sleeper prototypes were trialed in early 2025. Production of 9 additional rakes by December 2025 is underway. Plans include scaling up to 50 rakes by fiscal 2025‑26 and FY2026‑27, culminating in a fleet of over 200 sleepers over the next few years
📊 At‑a‑Glance: Raft of New Trains and Upcoming Projects
| Train Type / Route | Inauguration / Announcement | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gorakhpur → Prayagraj Vande Bharat | July 2025 | ~500 km in ~7 h 30 m |
| Howrah → Bhagalpur / Varanasi → Deoghar | Sept 2025 | Eastern corridor semi‑high‑speed |
| Chennai Egmore → Nagercoil | Aug 31, 2025 | Southern peninsula connection |
| New Delhi → Varanasi & Nagpur → Secunderabad | 2025 | 20‑coach high‑capacity Vande Bharat units |
| Anand Vihar → Ayodhya Cantt. | Dec 2025 – Jan 2025 | Premier connectivity to pilgrim city |
| Udhampur–Srinagar via USBRL | June 2025 | Strategic rail link with two Vande Bharat trains |
| Pune-centric new Vande Bharat routes | Mid-2025 announcement | Six routes including sleeper segment |
| Amrit Bharat rakes | 2025–2025 | Affordable modern travel for mass transit |
| Namo Bharat RRTS (Delhi–Meerut) | 2025–25 | High-speed corridor for commuters |
| Vande Bharat Sleeper coaches | Testing in 2025, rollout planned till FY26 | Overnight premium travel segment |
🚀 Broader Context: Railway Development in 2025
- The 2025–26 Union Budget earmarked capital outlay of ₹2.52 lakh crore for Indian Railways, with plans to roll out 200 new Vande Bharat, 100 Amrit Bharat, and 50 Namo Bharat train sets over the next 2–3 years, along with 17,500 new non-AC sleeper/general coaches to support inclusive growth
- Technological modernization continued with widespread deployment of upgraded Kavach systems and expanded production of modern trains, including Hydrogen-powered prototypes being tested at ICF, Chennai
✅ Summary
Between mid‑2025 and mid‑2025, Indian Railways has:
- Introduced 10+ new Vande Bharat Express routes, including long-distance 20-coach sets.
- Expanded premium travel through Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat corridors.
- Initiated Vande Bharat Sleeper manufacturing and trials.
- Laid groundwork for rapid transit systems like Namo Bharat RRTS.
- Announced ambitious expansion plans through Budget support and coach production ramp‑up.
Let me know if you’d like more details on any specific route — fares, schedule timings, planned frequency, or how to book tickets.