Rajasthan rail boost: Vande Bharat expanded, new trains for Jaisalmer and Jalore
Synopsis
In a single day, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw transformed western Rajasthan's rail map — doubling Vande Bharat capacity to 1,440 seats, connecting Gujarat directly to Jaisalmer, launching a new Bhuj–Delhi Express from Jalore, and clearing a ₹400 crore terminal at Bhagat Ki Kothi. It is the most concentrated rail investment the region has seen in years.
Key Takeaways
Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express expanded from 8 to 20 coaches, raising capacity from 530 to 1,440 seats .
Sabarmati–Jodhpur Superfast Express extended to Jaisalmer , creating a direct Gujarat–western Rajasthan link.
New Bhuj–Delhi Express flagged off from Jalore by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw . ₹400 crore mega coaching terminal approved for Bhagat Ki Kothi Railway Station , to include India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Maintenance Depot Phase-II .
Maximum speed on Jodhpur–Luni–Marwar Junction section raised to 130 kmph .
Modern Coach Care Complex inaugurated at Jaisalmer Railway Station to boost maintenance and tourism support.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, 22 May inaugurated and flagged off a series of major railway projects for western Rajasthan during his visit to Jodhpur, delivering a significant upgrade to rail connectivity, passenger capacity, and tourism infrastructure across the region. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was also present at the event.
Vande Bharat Expansion: From 8 to 20 Coaches
The centrepiece of the day's announcements was the expansion of the Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express from 8 coaches to 20, more than doubling passenger capacity from 530 to 1,440 seats. The upgraded composition includes 16 coaches with 78 seats each, two coaches with 44 seats, and two coaches with 52 seats. Railway officials said the expansion is expected to provide significant relief from long waiting lists on the high-demand Delhi route.
Jaisalmer Gets Direct Gujarat Link and New Maintenance Hub
The Sabarmati–Jodhpur Superfast Express was extended up to Jaisalmer and flagged off during the event, establishing a direct rail link between Gujarat and the desert city. This is a meaningful connectivity gain for a tourist destination that has historically relied on limited rail options from the west.
Vaishnaw also inaugurated a modern Coach Care Complex at Jaisalmer Railway Station via video conferencing. The new facility will offer advanced train cleaning and maintenance services on-site, improving operational turnaround and supporting the region's growing tourism economy.
Bhagat Ki Kothi Terminal and Speed Upgrade
The Railway Ministry approved the development of a mega coaching terminal at Bhagat Ki Kothi Railway Station, estimated at ₹400 crore. The project will also house Phase-II of the country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Maintenance Depot and a state-of-the-art railway training centre — positioning Jodhpur as a key node in the national rail maintenance network.
Additionally, the maximum permissible speed on the Jodhpur–Luni–Marwar Junction rail section will be raised to 130 kmph, cutting travel times on a key western Rajasthan corridor.
New Bhuj–Delhi Express Flagged Off from Jalore
Later the same day, Vaishnaw travelled to Jalore, where he flagged off the new Bhuj–Delhi Express. The launch was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Rajendra Gehlot, MLAs Atul Bhansali, Devendra Joshi, and Pabbaram Bishnoi, along with senior North Western Railway officials.
This is the third significant rail event in the region in recent months, reflecting a sustained push to integrate western Rajasthan — historically underserved by rail — into the national high-speed and high-capacity network. With tourism, trade, and military logistics all dependent on connectivity in this border-adjacent zone, the cumulative impact of Friday's announcements extends well beyond passenger convenience.
Point of View
Jaisalmer, and Jalore are simultaneously tourist gateways, military-adjacent zones, and economically lagging districts. Expanding the Vande Bharat's capacity addresses a real bottleneck; the waiting-list problem on the Delhi route has been a persistent grievance. The ₹400 crore Bhagat Ki Kothi terminal and the Vande Bharat Sleeper depot signal that Jodhpur is being groomed as a western rail hub, not just a political photo-op stop. The missing piece is a timeline: none of the infrastructure projects came with commissioning dates, which makes accountability harder to track.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How has the Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express been upgraded?
The train has been expanded from 8 to 20 coaches, increasing seating capacity from 530 to 1,440 passengers. The new composition includes 16 coaches with 78 seats each, two with 44 seats, and two with 52 seats.
Which new train service has been launched from Jalore?
The Bhuj–Delhi Express was flagged off from Jalore by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on 22 May. The service provides a new direct link between Gujarat's Bhuj and the national capital via Jalore.
What is the Sabarmati–Jaisalmer Superfast Express?
It is an extension of the existing Sabarmati–Jodhpur Superfast Express, now running all the way to Jaisalmer. The extension creates a direct rail connection between Gujarat and the desert tourism city of Jaisalmer in western Rajasthan.
What is planned for Bhagat Ki Kothi Railway Station?
A mega coaching terminal has been approved at a cost of ₹400 crore. The facility will also host Phase-II of India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Maintenance Depot and a new railway training centre.
What speed upgrade has been announced for western Rajasthan?
The maximum permissible speed on the Jodhpur–Luni–Marwar Junction rail section will be increased to 130 kmph, which is expected to reduce travel times on a key corridor in western Rajasthan.
