South Eastern Railway to Restore MEMU and Passenger Train Services
SER TO RESTORE MEMU & PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICES
South Eastern Railway, after considering the demand of the passengers, has decided to restore the train services with the resumption of two pairs of MEMUs between Adra-Asansol-Adra & Midnapur-Adra-Midnapur and one pair of Passenger Train between Bokaro Steel City-Ranchi-Bokaro Steel City. The aforesaid trains will run with effect from 14.12.2025 as per the following programme:-
Train No. 68045/ Train No. 68046 Adra-Asansol-Adra MEMU Passenger
Train No. 68089 / Train No. 68090 Midnapur-Adra-Midnapur MEMU Passenger
Train No. 58033 / Train No. 58034 Bokaro Steel City-Ranchi-Bokaro Steel City Passenger
Passengers are requested to kindly converse with NTES (National Train Enquiry System) App for update and intersectional stoppages and timings before undertaking journey. Passenger may call 139 for any assistance. Passengers are also requested to strictly follow all the health protocols before undertaking and during journey in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s a comprehensive and updated overview of South Eastern Railway’s (SER) decision to restore MEMU and Passenger train services—including context, restoration timelines, recent infrastructure developments, and passenger impact:
Contents
🛤️ 1. Restoration Announcement — December 2025
- From 14 December 2025 onward, South Eastern Railway reinstated key local services based on commuter demand:
- Adra–Asansol MEMU Passenger (68045/68046)
- Midnapore–Adra MEMU Passenger (68089/68090)
- Bokaro Steel City–Ranchi Passenger (58033/58034)
- These services ran daily, with unreserved general seating and fare reverting to ₹10–₹15, consistent with pre‑COVID norms.turn0search1
🔄 2. 2025: Maintenance-Induced Service Disruptions
- April–May 2025 Maintenance (Rolling Block Programme)
- In Adra Division, from 28 April to 4 May 2025, several MEMU services were affected:
- 68045/68046 Adra–Asansol MEMU — cancelled on multiple days
- 68056/68060 Tatanagar–Barabhum–Asansol MEMU — truncated to Adra
- This overhaul affected regular MEMU connectivity.turn0search6
- In Adra Division, from 28 April to 4 May 2025, several MEMU services were affected:
- Early June 2025 Infrastructure Work
- From 2 to 8 June 2025, essential maintenance again led to:
- Full suspension of Asansol–Adra MEMU services
- Partial cancellations and terminus changes on Tatanagar–Asansol/Barabhum MEMUs
- Route diversions and delays for connecting express services.turn0search10
- From 2 to 8 June 2025, essential maintenance again led to:
- Zone-Level Operations Changes
- In May 2025, SER converted select local services from conventional passenger to MEMU operation—for example on the Tatanagar–Kharagpur corridor.turn0search7
🚉 3. 2025 Restoration: Extended Networks & New Routes
- On 3 June 2025, SER announced the introduction of new MEMU passenger services:
- Tatanagar–Chaibasa MEMU (68137/68138), departing Tatanagar at 20:55
- Tatanagar–Chakulia MEMU (68128/68127), departing Tatanagar at 11:00
- These services meet commuter demand in Jamshedpur region and nearby outskirts.turn0search0
- On 29 June 2025, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off a new MEMU service between Howrah and Purulia via Bankura–Masagram, boosting inter-divisional connectivity.turn0search8
✅ Summary Table
| Route / Period | Action | Memo |
|---|---|---|
| Adra–Asansol / Midnapore–Adra / Bokaro–Ranchi | Restoration (Dec 2025) | Daily MEMU & Passenger trains reinstatedturn0search1 |
| Adra Division (Apr–May 2025) | Cancellation / Shortened Services | Due to rolling block maintenanceturn0search6turn0search10 |
| June 2025 | Infrastructure Upgrades Delays | Some routes suspended or reroutedturn0search10 |
| June 2025 | New MEMU services launched | Tatanagar–Chaibasa & Tatanagar–Chakuliaturn0search0turn0search8 |
🧭 Passenger Impact & Insights
- The restored services from 2025 reinstated vital unreserved local links crucial for daily commuters, students, and short-distance travel.
- Maintenance disruptions of 2025 were essential for track safety and system upgrades, but caused short-term inconvenience across key commuter routes.
- New service additions like Tatanagar–Chaibasa, Tatanagar–Chakulia, and Howrah–Purulia–Masagram MEMU reflect SER’s ongoing efforts to enhance regional mobility.
- Complaints from passenger forums highlight issues such as persistent delays and priority of freight over passenger trains—a challenge especially noticeable on SER lines.turn0reddit19turn0reddit22
🎯 TL;DR
- SER restored several key MEMU and passenger services in December 2025, ensuring low-fare daily linkage.
- Infrastructure maintenance in April–June 2025 caused temporary suspensions and schedule changes across multiple MEMU routes.
- In June 2025, SER introduced new MEMU routes—addressing commuter demand and expanding service reach.
- Though services are back online, passenger feedback notes delays due to freight congestion and limited frequency on some corridors.
Would you like specific timetables for any MEMU route, or service status updates for routes you’re interested in (e.g., Midnapore–Adra, Adra–Asansol)? Let me know how I can assist further!