Prime Minister Flags Off New Amrit Bharat And Express Trains

13 Mar 2026 CW Team

The Podanur–Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express will provide a first direct link between Coimbatore's industrial belt and the coal and steel districts of eastern India, calling at Salem, Renigunta, Vijayawada, Jharsuguda, Ranchi and Bokaro. The weekly service will depart Podanur on Saturdays and reach Dhanbad by Monday, reversing on Monday, removing earlier long transits that required changes at Chennai or Vijayawada.

Amrit Bharat rakes are configured for affordability with non-air-conditioned sleeper and general coaches, a pantry car and accessibility features including two Divyangjan-accessible coaches. The rakes are built at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai under Make in India and use a push-pull locomotive enabling speeds up to 130 km/h. The services aim to ease travel for inter-state migrant workers, students and traders.

The Nagercoil–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express will link the southernmost coastal belt with Telangana while the Rameswaram–Mangaluru and Tirunelveli–Mangaluru express trains will offer direct coastal options to Karnataka. Passenger services include Mayiladuthurai–Thiruvarur–Karaikkudi and Palakkad–Pollachi, improving daily commutes and access to education and healthcare. Three stations were redeveloped at a combined cost of Rs 520 million (520 mn) and the 65 kilometre Shoranur–Nilambur electrification was completed at a project cost of Rs 900 million (900 mn). The Amrit Bharat network currently has 54 trains in service and with the new additions operating four services the total will rise to 58.

The Prime Minister will flag off two Amrit Bharat express services, two express trains and a passenger service from Tiruchirappalli and an additional passenger service from Ernakulam on 11 March 2026. The new services are expected to benefit millions of passengers across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states. The event will include inauguration of three redeveloped Amrit Bharat stations in Kerala and dedication of the Shoranur–Nilambur electrification. The Podanur–Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express will provide a first direct link between Coimbatore's industrial belt and the coal and steel districts of eastern India, calling at Salem, Renigunta, Vijayawada, Jharsuguda, Ranchi and Bokaro. The weekly service will depart Podanur on Saturdays and reach Dhanbad by Monday, reversing on Monday, removing earlier long transits that required changes at Chennai or Vijayawada. Amrit Bharat rakes are configured for affordability with non-air-conditioned sleeper and general coaches, a pantry car and accessibility features including two Divyangjan-accessible coaches. The rakes are built at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai under Make in India and use a push-pull locomotive enabling speeds up to 130 km/h. The services aim to ease travel for inter-state migrant workers, students and traders. The Nagercoil–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express will link the southernmost coastal belt with Telangana while the Rameswaram–Mangaluru and Tirunelveli–Mangaluru express trains will offer direct coastal options to Karnataka. Passenger services include Mayiladuthurai–Thiruvarur–Karaikkudi and Palakkad–Pollachi, improving daily commutes and access to education and healthcare. Three stations were redeveloped at a combined cost of Rs 520 million (520 mn) and the 65 kilometre Shoranur–Nilambur electrification was completed at a project cost of Rs 900 million (900 mn). The Amrit Bharat network currently has 54 trains in service and with the new additions operating four services the total will rise to 58.

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