Indian Railways: Big news for railway passengers. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has unveiled a plan to transform the seven rail networks with the highest passenger traffic into four-lane superfast rail systems. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has introduced a blueprint for the seven busiest rail routes, covering around 11,000 kilometers of India’s rail traffic. This initiative will enhance the speed of trains such as Tejas, Vande Bharat, and Rajdhani Express, while also ensuring that passenger and superfast trains won’t have to halt for extended periods at various locations. Over 40 major cities, including Delhi, Patna, Mumbai, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Prayagraj, will reap the benefits of this upgrade.
The seven routes slated for enhancement to four tracks account for only 16% of the nation’s total rail network. Nevertheless, these routes are utilized by 41% of rail passengers. The Railways is actively working to expand this heavily trafficked rail network to four lanes to accommodate the growing passenger and freight demand. While the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train and Delhi-Varanasi bullet train routes will feature trains operating at speeds of up to 350 km per hour, the superfast rail network will also allow trains like Rajdhani, Vande Bharat, and Tejas to surpass speeds of 200 km per hour.
Four-lane superfast rail network:
Delhi–Howrah
Howrah–Chennai
Chennai–Mumbai
Mumbai–Delhi
Delhi–Chennai
Mumbai–Howrah
Delhi–Guwahati
Relief from train delays
At present, the railways operate two or three lines on these busy routes, which complicates the timely arrival of superfast trains. They often need to stop at various points for trains like Vande Bharat, Tejas, Rajdhani, or Shatabdi Express. However, with the addition of four tracks, trains will be able to travel more quickly, leading to improved schedules. This will create more space on congested routes for the Vande Bharat Express, Rajdhani Express, and other superfast express trains. Additionally, it will be easier to operate special trains during festivals and holidays to accommodate the increased passenger demand.
1. Delhi–Howrah: The Busiest Route – Key Stations
(The most active rail route in the nation)
New Delhi (NDLS), Old Delhi (DLI)
Aligarh Junction is a significant city located in western Uttar Pradesh.
Kanpur Central stands as the largest railway junction in North India.
Prayagraj serves as the headquarters for North Central Railway (NCR).
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction (DDU): Gateway to the Gaya and Patna route.
Route connecting Gaya Junction and Patna Junction.
Dhanbad Junction in Jharkhand is known for its coal mining region.
Asansol Junction is a key industrial station in Bengal.
Howrah is the final railway station.
2. Howrah–Chennai
(The Coromandel Route linking the East Coast to the South)
Howrah Railway Station
Kharagpur Junction features one of the longest railway platforms in the country.
Balasore acts as the entry point to Odisha from Bhadrak.
Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, the capital and a major city of Odisha.
Khurda Road Station is the main access point towards Puri.
Visakhapatnam marks the entry into Andhra Pradesh.
Rajahmundry is a city located along the banks of the Godavari River.
Vijayawada Junction is the busiest railway station in South India.
Nellore, Guntur, and then Chennai Central.
3. Chennai–Mumbai Railway Route
(Route linking South India to the Western route)
Chennai Central Station
Arakkonam, Renigunta, Cuddapah, and Gooty.
Guntakal Junction is the main junction in Andhra Pradesh.
Raichur is an important station on the Wadi route in Karnataka.
Kalaburagi leads into Solapur, Maharashtra.
Pune Junction is the IT hub of Maharashtra.
Kalyan Junction serves as the entrance to Mumbai locals.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus or Dadar.
4. Mumbai-Delhi Railway Route
(The fastest route for the Western Railway Rajdhani Express)
Mumbai Central (MMCT) or Bandra Terminus.
Surat station is the hub for the diamond and textile industries in Gujarat.
The route from Vadodara Junction to Ahmedabad is distinct.
Ratlam Junction is a key railway hub in Madhya Pradesh.
Kota Junction is a significant station in Rajasthan.
Sawai Madhopur station is renowned for Ranthambore.
Mathura Junction is a center for religious tourism in UP.
Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM) or New Delhi Railway Station.
5. Delhi–Chennai train route
(This is called the Grand Trunk or GT Road route, which runs from North to South India)
New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin station
Agra Cantt – Taj Mahal area
Entering Madhya Pradesh from Gwalior Junction
Veerangana Lakshmibai Junction (Jhansi), Main Junction of Central India
Bhopal Junction, Rani Kamlapati Station, capital of Madhya Pradesh
Itarsi Junction – one of the largest railway junctions in the country
Nagpur Junction – the main city of Maharashtra
Ballarshah is the last major station in Maharashtra.
Entering Telangana from Warangal
Vijayawada Junction (Andhra)
Chennai Central
6. Mumbai–Howrah Rail Route
(This rail route passes from west to east)
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Kalyan, Igatpuri – stations across the Western Ghats
Bhusaval Junction – a major junction in Maharashtra
Akola or Badnera
Nagpur Junction – a major hub of Vidarbha
Gondia, Durg – Gateway to Chhattisgarh
Raipur Junction, the capital of Chhattisgarh
Bilaspur: Headquarters of South East Central Railway
Rourkela, Jharsuguda: Major cities of Odisha
Tatanagar Junction: The famous steel city of Jharkhand
Kharagpur Junction and Howrah Station
7. Delhi–Guwahati station
New Delhi or Anand Vihar Terminus
Moradabad, Bareilly – Station in West UP
Lucknow Junction, the capital of UP.
Gorakhpur Junction: Headquarters of North Eastern Railway (NER)
Chhapra, Hajipur or Muzaffarpur, the junction of North Bihar
Barauni Junction, a major hub on the banks of the river Ganga
Katihar Junction, the largest station in the Seemanchal region
Entrance to New Cooch Behar, New Bongaigaon, Assam
Kamakhya Junction, near the famous Kamakhya Temple
Guwahati, the largest railway station in the Northeast