Bhagalpur: The much-anticipated Bhagalpur-Ahmedabad Amrit Bharat Express will make its first departure from Bhagalpur on Friday evening, providing the region with a new direct rail connection to Gujarat.
Train No. 19424 will leave Bhagalpur at 4:45pm following the inaugural ceremony and railway flag-off. The service is expected to strengthen passenger and commercial connectivity between Bhagalpur and major economic centres such as Ahmedabad and Surat.
The return service from Ahmedabad began on August 26, with the train scheduled to reach Bhagalpur on Friday morning before making its inaugural onward journey to Ahmedabad.
Sleeper seats sold out within days
The demand for the new service has been evident since bookings opened on August 20.
All seats in the train’s 11 sleeper coaches were booked by August 23, just three days after reservations began. Passengers are now being issued waitlisted tickets in the sleeper class.
The response indicates strong demand for a direct and regular rail connection between Bhagalpur and Gujarat, particularly among passengers travelling for employment, business and other purposes.
Weekly service from Bhagalpur
Following the inaugural run, the train will operate from Bhagalpur to Ahmedabad every Friday at 4:45pm.
On the return journey, Train No. 19423 (Ahmedabad-Bhagalpur) will depart Ahmedabad every Wednesday at 6:30pm and reach Bhagalpur at 6:40am on Friday.
The Bhagalpur-Ahmedabad service will cover approximately 1,976 kilometres and is scheduled to take around 36 hours, reaching Ahmedabad at 5:25am on Sunday.
22-coach train
The Amrit Bharat Express will comprise 22 coaches, including:
- 11 sleeper coaches
- Eight general coaches
- One pantry car
- Two SLR-D coaches
Maintenance of the train will be undertaken in Ahmedabad.
Major cities connected on the route
The train will connect Bhagalpur with a long list of important cities and railway stations across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
The scheduled halts include Sultanganj, Jamalpur, Abhaipur, Kiul, Mokama, Bakhtiyarpur, Patna, Danapur, Ara, Buxar, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Subedarganj, Govindpuri, Tundla, Idgah Agra, Bayana, Hindaun City, Gangapur City, Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Ramganj Mandi, Bhawani Mandi, Ratlam, Dahod, Godhra, Chhayapuri and Anand, besides Ahmedabad.
This will give passengers from several towns and cities along the route an additional option for travelling between Bihar and Gujarat.
Boost expected for business and employment travel
Ahmedabad and Surat are among India’s major commercial centres, while Bhagalpur is an important regional centre for trade and industry.
The direct rail connection could therefore benefit not only passengers but also businesses and workers travelling between the two regions.
For residents of Bhagalpur and neighbouring areas, the weekly service provides an alternative to existing travel options and eliminates the need for more complicated rail journeys to Gujarat.
Railway divisions make arrangements for inaugural run
Officials from the Malda and Bhagalpur railway divisions have been making arrangements for the train’s arrival and departure.
The launch establishes a new scheduled rail connection between Bhagalpur and Gujarat. Its longer-term impact will depend on passenger demand, regular operation and whether the service’s frequency is increased in the future.
