Ashwini Vaishnaw to launch key railway projects in Jodhpur, Jalore
Synopsis
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's single-day western Rajasthan tour packs in five major interventions: a Vande Bharat expansion from 8 to 20 coaches, a Gujarat–Jaisalmer train extension, a brand-new Bhuj–Delhi Express from Jalore, a sleeper depot Phase-2 launch, and a 130 kmph speed upgrade — making it one of the most concentrated railway pushes the region has seen in years.
Key Takeaways
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will visit Jodhpur and Jalore on Friday for a series of railway launches and announcements.
The Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express will be expanded from 8 coaches to 20 coaches , easing heavy waiting lists.
20486/20485 Sabarmati–Jodhpur Superfast Express will be extended to Jaisalmer , boosting Gujarat–Rajasthan connectivity.
A new Bhuj–Delhi Express via the Bhildi–Jalore–Luni–Pali Marwar route will be flagged off at Jalore Railway Station .
Phase-2 of the Vande Bharat sleeper train depot at Bhagat Ki Kothi is set to be unveiled.
Speed limit on the Jodhpur–Luni–Marwar Junction section is proposed to be raised to 130 kmph .
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is set to inaugurate and announce a series of major railway projects during a one-day visit to Jodhpur and Jalore on Friday, delivering a significant infrastructure push to western Rajasthan. The visit will cover train expansions, new service launches, and modernisation announcements spanning two key divisions.
Key Developments
Jodhpur Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Anurag Tripathi confirmed that the Minister will arrive in Jodhpur by air on Friday morning. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will also participate in the main programme at Jodhpur Railway Station.
Vande Bharat Expansion and New Trains
The centrepiece of the Jodhpur leg is the flagging off of the Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express with an expanded 20-coach configuration, up from the current eight coaches. Railway officials estimate the expansion will substantially reduce waiting lists and ease travel pressure on one of western Rajasthan's busiest intercity routes, benefiting thousands of passengers every month.
Vaishnaw will also flag off the extension of Train No. 20486/20485 Sabarmati–Jodhpur Superfast Express up to Jaisalmer. The extension is expected to strengthen rail connectivity between Gujarat and western Rajasthan while boosting tourism and regional development in Jaisalmer and surrounding areas.
Infrastructure and Speed Upgrades
The Railways is expected to unveil the Phase-2 development of the Vande Bharat sleeper train depot at Bhagat Ki Kothi during the programme. Separately, plans have been proposed to raise the maximum speed limit on the Jodhpur–Luni–Marwar Junction rail section to 130 kmph, a move that would cut travel time and improve operational efficiency on the corridor.
Jalore Leg: New Delhi Connectivity
Following the Jodhpur programme, the Minister will travel to Jalore by special train. At Jalore Railway Station, he will flag off the new Bhuj–Delhi Express via the Bhildi–Jalore–Luni–Pali Marwar route, giving passengers from Jalore and nearby regions their first direct rail link to Delhi.
What This Means for Western Rajasthan
Taken together, the announcements represent one of the more concentrated single-day railway interventions in the region in recent years. The combination of a larger Vande Bharat, a Gujarat–Jaisalmer extension, a new Delhi-bound service from Jalore, and a speed upgrade on a key corridor addresses both passenger demand and broader connectivity gaps in a geography that has historically lagged in rail infrastructure. How quickly these projects translate into operational improvements will determine their real-world impact.
Point of View
Documented demand problem rather than just adding a new service for headlines. The Jalore–Delhi link fills a genuine connectivity gap in a district that has had no direct capital access by rail. The harder question is execution: speed upgrades and depot expansions have a history of announcement-to-commissioning gaps in Indian Railways. Whether the 130 kmph corridor upgrade and the Bhagat Ki Kothi Phase-2 depot come with firm timelines will be the real test of this visit's lasting value.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What railway projects will Ashwini Vaishnaw launch in Jodhpur?
Vaishnaw will flag off the expanded Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express with 20 coaches (up from 8), announce Phase-2 of the Vande Bharat sleeper depot at Bhagat Ki Kothi, and unveil plans to raise the speed limit on the Jodhpur–Luni–Marwar Junction section to 130 kmph.
What is the new Bhuj–Delhi Express and which route does it take?
The Bhuj–Delhi Express is a new train service to be flagged off at Jalore Railway Station, running via the Bhildi–Jalore–Luni–Pali Marwar route. It will give passengers from Jalore and nearby areas direct rail connectivity to Delhi for the first time.
Why is the Vande Bharat expansion significant for passengers?
The Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat currently runs with only 8 coaches, leading to heavy waiting lists and high demand. Expanding to 20 coaches is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and improve travel convenience for thousands of passengers every month.
What is the Sabarmati–Jodhpur Superfast Express extension?
Train No. 20486/20485, the Sabarmati–Jodhpur Superfast Express, will be extended to Jaisalmer. The move is intended to improve rail connectivity between Gujarat and western Rajasthan and support tourism and regional development in the Jaisalmer area.
Who else will attend the Jodhpur railway programme?
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will join Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the main programme at Jodhpur Railway Station.
