The Ambikapur–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express will now operate twice a week instead of once, giving passengers in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh an additional travel option from October.
The railway has increased the frequency of the service in response to rising passenger demand and the expected increase in travel during the festival season. Railway officials said the additional service is intended to improve the availability of confirmed tickets on the route.
The train will continue to operate on the same route, with no changes to its schedule, stoppages or other operating arrangements, according to the report published by Jagran – New Delhi.
The Hazrat Nizamuddin–Ambikapur service, numbered 22408, currently operates on Tuesdays. From October 4, it will run on Sundays and Tuesdays. In the opposite direction, the Ambikapur–Hazrat Nizamuddin service, numbered 22407, currently runs on Thursdays. From October 6, it will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The change adds a second weekly departure in both directions without altering the train’s existing route. This is significant for passengers travelling between the national capital region and cities in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, as well as for passengers using intermediate stations in Uttar Pradesh.
The train departs from Ambikapur at 7.30 am and reaches Hazrat Nizamuddin at 4.25 am the following day. On its return journey, it leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 11 pm and arrives in Ambikapur at 6.50 pm the next day.
The revised frequency is scheduled to take effect ahead of the festival period, when demand for intercity and long-distance rail travel generally puts additional pressure on available berths. The report attributes the decision to passenger crowding on the service and says the railway is reviewing routes on an ongoing basis.
For passengers, the immediate change is an additional weekly departure rather than a change in travel time or route coverage. Those planning journeys will need to account for the revised operating days from October 4 for the train departing Hazrat Nizamuddin and from October 6 for the service originating in Ambikapur.
The railway’s next step is to implement the revised timetable and continue reviewing passenger demand across routes, according to the officials cited in the report.
