Overview
- The Prime Minister will conduct the flag-off in Varanasi on Saturday, with an on-site ceremony for the Banaras–Khajuraho train and virtual launches for three others, according to officials.
- The new services will run on Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Sarai Rohilla, Firozpur–Delhi, and Ernakulam–Bengaluru routes, taking the Vande Bharat tally to 164 services nationwide.
- The Banaras–Khajuraho service (train 26422/26421) will cover 443 km in about 7 hours 40 minutes with eight coaches, connect Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot and Khajuraho, and is promoted as saving roughly 2 hours 40 minutes versus current options.
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed station readiness, directing teams to ensure cleanliness, traffic flow and security, while police detailed crowd control, screening and access plans.
- Local organisers say Modi arrives in Varanasi on Nov. 7, will interact with students on board, meet the loco pilot and address roughly 4,000 people at the station, with regular service start dates for some routes to be announced.