Indian Railways Reduces Travel Times for 107 Western Railway Trains
In a move to improve passenger convenience and operational efficiency, Indian Railways has implemented a major overhaul of its train schedules, effective from January 1, 2025. The new timetable brings significant reductions in travel time across Western Railway, with 107 long-distance trains benefiting from speed enhancements.
The revised schedules are expected to save a total of 1363 minutes across these 107 trains, with individual reductions ranging from 5 minutes to a significant 85 minutes. A key highlight is the Bandra Terminus – Veraval Express, which will now complete its journey 85 minutes faster, significantly improving travel times on this vital route. Other important services, such as the Sabarmati – Varanasi Express, will see a 55-minute reduction, while the Bandra Terminus – Barmer Express and Bandra Terminus – Bikaner Express will save 45 and 30 minutes, respectively. In addition to the improvements, some services have also benefitted from smaller but notable reductions. The Amritsar – Mumbai Central Pashchim Express will now be 25 minutes faster, and the Bandra Terminus – Bhagat Ki Kothi Express will save 15 minutes.
However, not all changes are reductions. Due to operational reasons, the travel time for 24 trains has been slightly increased. Notably, the Ahmedabad – Mumbai Central Gujarat Superfast will see an additional 4 minutes added to its travel time, while other trains, including the Bandra Terminus – Bhuj Express and Bandra Terminus – Lal Kuan Express, will experience a 5-minute increase. Some trains, such as the Kanpur – Valsad Express and Prayagraj – Ahmedabad Express, will see delays ranging from 10 to 55 minutes. In a bid to further enhance service efficiency, Indian Railways has also upgraded six express trains to superfast services, including the Valsad – Bhagat Ki Kothi Express and the Bandra Terminus – Barmer Humsafar Express. Additionally, eight pairs of trains have been extended to cater to the growing demand for rail services, with hundreds of trains seeing minor adjustments to their arrival and departure timings.
Meanwhile, Central Railway has also implemented changes, including renumbering several trains and adding commercial halts, such as at Igatpuri. Furthermore, the destinations of 11 trains have been extended, and various express trains have been upgraded to superfast status, offering faster travel times. An official from Indian Railways commented, “These changes are aimed at providing faster, more reliable services that cater to the increasing demand for better rail connectivity. We are optimistic that these adjustments will improve the overall travel experience for our passengers while ensuring the smooth operation of services across both Western and Central Railway zones.”
