Overview
- The Ministry of Railways formally approved the new cross‑border weekly passenger service on November 14, 2026, creating a direct rail connection between Janakpur Dham in Nepal and Ayodhya Cantt. in Uttar Pradesh.
- The route spans about 604 kilometres and includes commercial stops at Jaynagar, Madhubani, Shisho, Sitamarhi, Raxaul, Narkatiaganj, Gorakhpur, Basti, Mankapur and Ayodhya Dham besides the two terminals.
- Indian Railways says the service will run once a week, departing Janakpur Dham on Saturdays and leaving Ayodhya Cantt. on Mondays, though the ministry did not specify the date commercial operations will begin.
- Reported trial runs have been carried out on the route and media outlets say the train is expected to be virtually flagged off by the prime ministers of India and Nepal on November 23, 2026, a detail described in reporting rather than in the official rail release.
- Officials frame the service as both a religious tourism link between two Ramayana sites and a practical boost for students, traders, hotels and border communities, building on earlier India‑Nepal talks on cross‑border rail connectivity held in June 2026.