Just months after its launch was hailed as a boost to tourism between Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the Vande Bharat Express linking Udaipur City with Agra Cantt is set to make its final run on February 15. Bookings on IRCTC are available only until February 14, confirming what railway sources have since indicated: the semi-high-speed service will be withdrawn. Alongside it, the Udaipur–Jaipur Vande Bharat will also cease operations a day earlier, marking a significant reshuffle of premium rail connectivity from the lake city.
The two affected services—Train Nos. 20979/20980 (Udaipur–Jaipur) and 20981/20982 (Udaipur–Agra Cantt)—were introduced amid much optimism. The Udaipur–Agra route, launched in September 2024, ran three days a week and stitched together key cultural and tourist centres across Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. For many travellers, particularly those seeking faster, more comfortable day travel options, the sleek eight-coach rake quickly became a preferred choice.
Despite the anticipation of faster and more comfortable travel, the passenger volume did not meet Indian Railways' expectations. Railway officials pointed to persistently reduced passenger numbers as the principal factor for suspending both the routes.
On regular days, the trains reportedly ran at roughly 50 to 60 per cent capacity, with spikes during festival periods touching 80 to 85 per cent.
In an effort to stem financial losses, frequency had already been reduced. What initially operated six days a week was scaled down to three days each on the Jaipur and Agra corridors. Even then, demand failed to stabilise. Limited stoppages along the route were also cited as a contributing factor, restricting access for intermediate towns that might otherwise have bolstered ridership.
The timing of the discontinuation—just ahead of the Holi travel rush—may inconvenience passengers who had come to rely on the service, especially when confirmed seats on other trains were scarce. For Agra in particular, the withdrawal narrows its Vande Bharat footprint; the number of such trains originating from or passing through the city will now drop to three.
The suspension of the Jaipur and Agra services is not merely a rollback, but part of a broader operational recalibration. Even as the Vande Bharat network continues to expand nationwide, the Railway Board has been reviewing individual route performance to optimise deployment of rakes. Services that underperform are being reassessed, restructured, or, as in this case, discontinued.
The rake from the withdrawn services will not remain idle for long. Indian Railways has approved a new Vande Bharat Express connecting Udaipur City with Asarwa in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Operated by the North Western Railway zone, the new route signals a strategic pivot towards strengthening inter-state connectivity between southern Rajasthan and Gujarat’s commercial hub.
This move consolidates Vande Bharat operations from Udaipur onto a corridor that is expected to see stronger and more consistent passenger demand, particularly from business travellers and those connecting to Ahmedabad’s airport and industrial centres.
The Udaipur City–Asarwa Vande Bharat Express will run six days a week, with no service on Tuesdays. Departing Udaipur at 6:10 am, Train No.26963 will arrive in Asarwa at 10:25 am, while at 5:45 pm, Train No. 26964 will depart and reach by 10:00 pm in Udaipur. Appealing to both the business commuters and leisure travellers the schedule positions it squarely as a same-day return option.
En route, the train will halt at Zawar, Dungarpur and Himmatnagar, bringing semi-urban and tribal regions into the fold of semi-high-speed rail connectivity. Like other Vande Bharat services, the eight air-conditioned chair car coaches are designed for speeds up to 160 kmph, subject to track conditions, and are equipped with standard onboard amenities associated with the flagship service.
For Udaipur, the shift marks a recalibration rather than a retreat. While the Jaipur and Agra links will be missed by some travellers, railway authorities appear to be betting that the Ahmedabad corridor will deliver stronger occupancy and operational viability. As Indian Railways fine-tunes its ambitious Vande Bharat expansion, the message is clear: speed and scale must ultimately align with sustained passenger demand.
(With inputs from various sources.)
1. When will the Udaipur–Agra and Udaipur–Jaipur Vande Bharat trains stop running?
The Udaipur–Jaipur service will stop from February 14, 2026, and the Udaipur–Agra Cantt service from February 15, 2026.
2. Why have these Vande Bharat routes been discontinued?
Railways cited low passenger occupancy and operational viability as the main reasons for suspending both services.
3. How will this impact Agra’s Vande Bharat connectivity?
With the withdrawal of the Udaipur–Agra service, the number of Vande Bharat trains serving Agra will reduce to three.
4. Is a new Vande Bharat service being introduced from Udaipur?
Yes, a new Udaipur City–Asarwa (Ahmedabad) Vande Bharat Express has been approved and will begin operations shortly.
5. What is the schedule of the new Udaipur–Asarwa Vande Bharat?
The train will run six days a week, departing Udaipur at 6:10 am and returning from Asarwa at 5:45 pm, enabling same-day travel.