A Major Upgrade in Connectivity
The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express on the Surat-Udaipur route marks a significant enhancement for travellers, connecting South Gujarat directly with southern Rajasthan. This premium, semi-high-speed train is a welcome development for both business
travellers and tourists, offering a faster and more comfortable alternative to existing options. The service, operated by the Western Railway zone, will be Surat's first Vande Bharat Express. It effectively extends a previous service that ran only up to Asarva (Ahmedabad), creating a much longer and more useful corridor for passengers.
Train Numbers and Schedule
The service has been assigned train numbers 26903 for the Surat to Udaipur journey and 26904 for the return trip from Udaipur to Surat. Train 26903 is scheduled to depart from Surat at 6:10 AM and reach Udaipur City at 1:40 PM the same day. For the return journey, train 26904 will leave Udaipur City at 3:35 PM and arrive back in Surat at 11:00 PM.
Frequency and Days of Operation
The Surat-Udaipur Vande Bharat Express is scheduled to run six days a week. There will be no service on Tuesdays, which is allocated for maintenance. This high frequency provides ample flexibility for planning weekend trips or weekday business travel between the two major cities.
Route and Key Station Stops
During its journey, the train will make nine commercial stops, ensuring connectivity to several important towns and cities along the way. After departing from Surat, the key halts include Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Maninagar, Asarva, Himmatnagar, Shamlaji Road, Dungarpur, and Zawar before terminating at Udaipur City. This route provides a direct, premium rail link between key economic and tourist centres in both Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Journey Time and Speed
The new service significantly cuts down travel time. The journey from Surat to Udaipur is expected to take approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes, covering a distance of around 690 kilometres. The return journey is slightly quicker, scheduled at 7 hours and 25 minutes. The Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high-speed train capable of running at a maximum speed of 160 kmph, which allows for this swift connection.
Coach Composition and Features
The train will operate with an eight-coach composition, which is standard for many Vande Bharat services. These trains are known for their modern amenities, including reclining seats, automatic doors, CCTV cameras, and passenger information systems, providing a comfortable and secure travel experience. The service will offer both AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car classes for passengers. While the final inaugural date is yet to be announced by the railways, the service is expected to begin soon, potentially before the Navratri festival season.
