Indian Railways has cleared another expansion of its affordable long-distance network, with the Railway Board approving seven Amrit Bharat Express services across major north, west, central, east and south Indian corridors. The latest approvals create fresh links for passengers travelling from Gorakhpur and Prayagraj, while Dhanbad, Coimbatore, Charlapalli, Udhna, Bandra Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Delhi also feature prominently. The Railway Board’s 2026 train-introduction list now carries these approvals.
The move comes during a rapid build-out of the Amrit Bharat network. According to the Press Information Bureau, 60 Amrit Bharat Express services were operational across Indian Railways as of March 23, 2026. The trains are positioned as modern, affordable long-distance options for passengers using sleeper and general-class accommodation.
Which Seven New Amrit Bharat Express Trains Have Been Approved?
The approvals are spread across seven routes, with each service designed around interstate travel rather than a single metropolitan corridor:
- Dhanbad–Coimbatore Amrit Bharat Express (22363/22364): Links Jharkhand with Tamil Nadu through Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Major stops include Gaya, Prayagraj Chheoki, Jabalpur, Nagpur, Warangal, Vijayawada, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur.
- Charlapalli–Gorakhpur Amrit Bharat Express (22075/22076): Connects Telangana and Uttar Pradesh through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, covering Nagpur, Itarsi, Bhopal, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Gonda.
- Gorakhpur–Bandra Terminus Amrit Bharat Express (15085/15086): Gives eastern Uttar Pradesh another Mumbai link via Kanpur, Agra, Kota, Ratlam, Vadodara, Surat, Vapi and Borivali.
- Gorakhpur–Delhi Amrit Bharat Express (15095/15096): Runs through Khalilabad, Basti, Gonda, Sitapur, Bareilly, Moradabad and Ghaziabad before reaching Delhi.
- Subedarganj–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Amrit Bharat Express (14121/14122): Connects the Prayagraj region with Mumbai through Banda, Satna, Jabalpur, Itarsi, Bhusaval, Nashik Road, Kalyan and Thane.
- Prayagraj–Udhna Amrit Bharat Express (20437/20438): Links Uttar Pradesh with Gujarat via Agra, Gangapur City, Kota, Ratlam and Vadodara.
- Prayagraj–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Amrit Bharat Express (20436/20435): Takes a limited-stop route through Satna, Jabalpur, Itarsi, Bhusaval and Kalyan before Mumbai.
Which Cities And States Stand To Gain The Most?
Uttar Pradesh is the clearest winner from this batch. Gorakhpur anchors three approved services, while Prayagraj and nearby Subedarganj anchor three more. That creates added long-distance choices toward Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat and Telangana. Kanpur, Gonda, Lucknow, Agra and Prayagraj also appear across multiple corridors.
Maharashtra receives strong coverage too. Mumbai is served through Bandra Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, while Kalyan, Thane, Bhusaval, Nagpur and Chandrapur gain access depending on the route. Gujarat benefits through Udhna, Vadodara, Surat, Valsad and Vapi. Madhya Pradesh becomes an important bridge through Jabalpur, Itarsi, Bhopal and Ratlam.
The Dhanbad–Coimbatore train has the widest geographical sweep. It crosses Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. For passengers in Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem and Vijayawada, it creates another direct long-distance option toward Dhanbad and eastern India.
Southern Railway has also highlighted the Dhanbad–Coimbatore Amrit Bharat Express on its official Instagram account, giving passengers a direct official social-media reference for the service.
What Makes Amrit Bharat Express Different From Premium Trains?
Amrit Bharat Express is aimed at affordable long-distance travel rather than the premium chair-car market associated with many Vande Bharat services. The Railways’ 2025 year-end review described Amrit Bharat trains as fully non-AC services, then configured with 12 sleeper coaches and eight general-class coaches.
That positioning is important on routes with heavy worker, family, student and inter-state passenger movement. The category gives Indian Railways a modern long-distance product for travellers who may not be looking for premium fares.
The latest approvals fit that pattern. Gorakhpur-to-Mumbai and Prayagraj-to-Mumbai corridors carry long-distance traffic, while Dhanbad–Coimbatore joins industrial and employment centres across eight states. Charlapalli–Gorakhpur similarly connects Hyderabad’s eastern rail terminal with major cities across central and northern India.
When Will The New Services Start And What Should Passengers Watch?
Railway Board approval is an important step, but passengers should still check the final zonal railway notification before planning travel. In several cases, the Board order regularises an existing special train as an Amrit Bharat service, so the corridor itself may not be entirely new. Indian Railways says introduction of a service depends on section capacity, available train paths, rolling stock, infrastructure and maintenance requirements. Final timetables, commercial start dates and booking availability can therefore follow separately.
Current route reports indicate weekly operation for the approved services. Dhanbad–Coimbatore is listed with a Saturday departure and Tuesday return; Charlapalli–Gorakhpur with Friday and Sunday runs; and Gorakhpur–Bandra with Friday and Saturday operations. Prayagraj–Lokmanya Tilak is also reported for Friday outbound and Saturday return service. Passengers should confirm the final schedule once reservations open.
For the wider network, the approvals show where Indian Railways is adding capacity: high-demand long-distance corridors connecting tier-two cities, industrial centres and major gateways such as Mumbai and Delhi.
FAQs
How many new Amrit Bharat Express trains has the Railway Board approved?
The Railway Board has approved seven new Amrit Bharat Express services across interstate routes nationwide.
Which state gets the highest concentration of newly approved routes?
Uttar Pradesh features prominently, with Gorakhpur, Prayagraj and Subedarganj anchoring six newly approved services altogether.
Will the new Amrit Bharat trains have only air-conditioned coaches?
No, Amrit Bharat Express services are designed around non-AC sleeper and general-class travel for passengers.
When can passengers book tickets for these newly approved trains?
Bookings should begin after operational notifications, timetables and reservation availability are released by Indian Railways.
Which approved route covers the broadest stretch across India?
Dhanbad–Coimbatore crosses eight states, linking eastern, central and southern India through several railway junctions directly.
