Namo Bharat fast trains with limited stops will begin operating during peak hours on the Delhi–Meerut corridor from 16 November, allowing passengers to travel from Anand Vihar to Ghaziabad in eight minutes and from Anand Vihar to Begumpul in 36 minutes, according to the NCRTC.
The additional services will run in the morning and evening peak periods in both directions. Two fast trains will depart from the corridor’s terminals at 8 am and 8.30 am in the morning, while evening services will leave at 6 pm and 6.30 pm. The trains will operate between Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram, and will be added to the existing regular Namo Bharat services.
The fast trains will stop only at five stations: Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, Begumpul and Modipuram. By limiting the number of stops, NCRTC expects to reduce journey times for passengers travelling between the major stations. The journey from Ghaziabad to Begumpul will take 28 minutes, while the full corridor journey will be completed in less than 50 minutes, as per the reported details.
Regular Namo Bharat trains will continue to operate at their existing frequency of one train every 10 minutes. Passengers have been advised to check station display boards and listen to platform announcements before boarding to identify whether the arriving service is a fast train or a regular service.
The additional services are being introduced as daily ridership on the corridor reaches approximately 1.1 lakh passenger journeys. The corridor has also crossed the milestone of five crore passenger journeys, while more than 32 lakh passenger journeys were recorded on average each month during the past three months, according to the report.
The new peak-hour timetable is intended to support passengers travelling to offices and educational institutions, for whom journey time and service reliability are important. It also comes as the Delhi NCR region faces severe air pollution, with faster public transport positioned as a way to encourage more people to use rail-based mobility and reduce pressure on roads.
The introduction of limited-stop services adds a new layer to the corridor’s operating pattern: regular trains will continue serving the wider station network, while the additional fast services will prioritise speed between five key locations. NCRTC has asked passengers to follow station information and announcements when selecting a service. The new timetable is scheduled to take effect on 16 November.
