Indian Railways launches tri-weekly Amrit Bharat Express: Bhuj to Barauni in 2,532 km
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Indian Railways has approved a new tri-weekly Amrit Bharat Express connecting Bhuj in Gujarat and Barauni in Bihar, spanning a distance of 2,532 km across four states. The service, announced on 25 September 2025 via an official statement, adds a long-haul rail link bridging western and eastern India through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Train Timings and Schedule
Train No. 19427 Bhuj-Barauni Amrit Bharat Express will depart Bhuj at 17:30 hours and arrive at Barauni at 04:05 hours. The return service, Train No. 19428 Barauni-Bhuj Amrit Bharat Express, will depart Barauni at 23:55 hours and reach Bhuj at 13:15 hours.
The Bhuj-to-Barauni direction will run on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, while the Barauni-to-Bhuj direction will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Key Stops Along the Route
The new express will halt at more than 20 commercial stations en route, including Samakhiali, Ahmedabad, Ratlam, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Gangapur City, Bharatpur, Mathura, Hathras, Bareilly, Izzatnagar, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Siwan, Chhapra, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, and Samastipur, among others. The corridor effectively creates a single-train option for passengers in the Kutch region of Gujarat seeking direct access to Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh — a connectivity gap that previously required multiple changes.
Jhansi-Agra Express Extended to Mathura
In a separate announcement, Indian Railways has also approved the extension of Train No. 11901/11902 Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi-Agra Cantt Express up to Mathura station. The total journey distance will increase from 217 km to 270 km with this extension.
Under the revised schedule, Train No. 11901 will depart Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi at 16:00 hours and reach Mathura at 23:00 hours. The return service, Train No. 11902, will leave Mathura at 05:05 hours and arrive at Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi at 12:50 hours. Additional stoppages on the extended stretch include Raja ki Mandi, Runkuta, Deen Dayal Dham, and Baad.
Broader Connectivity Impact
The two approvals together reflect a broader thrust by Indian Railways to deepen inter-regional connectivity, particularly for passengers in smaller towns along high-density corridors. The Amrit Bharat Express brand — designed to offer upgraded non-AC travel — has been deployed on several routes over the past two years as part of the railways' push to modernise mass-market rail travel. This is the latest addition to a growing fleet of such services linking the country's far-flung regions. Both services are expected to ease pressure on existing trains along these corridors and offer additional frequency for time-sensitive travellers.