The Sabarmati–Varanasi train will begin daily services in November, giving passengers from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh a new direct rail option ahead of the Diwali and Chhath travel season. Western Railway has decided to start regular operations of train numbers 12205 and 12206, according to a report by Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad.
Train 12205, the Sabarmati–Varanasi Superfast Express, will depart from Sabarmati at 5.20 am every day from November 4 and reach Varanasi at 6.30 am the following day. The return service, train 12206, will begin from Varanasi at 5.30 pm daily from November 2 and arrive at Sabarmati at 8.15 pm the next day.
The service will connect important passenger markets across three states. From Sabarmati, the train will stop at Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Falna, Marwar Junction, Beawar, Ajmer, Kishangarh, Jaipur, Gandhinagar Jaipur, Bandikui, Mandawar Mahuwa Road, Kherli, Nadbai, Bharatpur, Idgah Agra, Tundla, Govindpuri, Subedarganj and Mirzapur before reaching Varanasi.
The route is significant for passengers travelling between western India and eastern Uttar Pradesh, particularly those seeking to reach their hometowns during the peak festive period. The source report said the daily service would provide relief to passengers who had been unable to secure confirmed reservations and would add another regular option for travel from Gujarat towards Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
The train will include AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, sleeper and general-class coaches. The combination provides multiple fare and comfort options for passengers, although the source report does not specify the final coach composition or the total carrying capacity of each service.
The new train also extends the practical reach of Sabarmati as a passenger rail hub. Its scheduled stops include major urban and regional centres such as Ajmer, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Agra, Kanpur-region station Govindpuri and Mirzapur, allowing passengers to use the service for both end-to-end and intermediate journeys. The number of stops means that the train will serve more than only the Ahmedabad–Varanasi market.
Ticket booking for train 12205 will open on November 2 through all Passenger Reservation System counters and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation website, according to the report. The booking schedule for the return service and the detailed fare structure were not specified in the supplied information.
The daily operation will therefore add a scheduled rail connection at a time when demand for long-distance travel is expected to rise around Diwali and Chhath. The first Sabarmati departure is scheduled for November 4, while the first Varanasi departure is scheduled for November 2.
