Indian Railways unveils train timetable 2026: 122 new trains, speed boost for 549 services.

New Delhi, January 9, 2026: Indian Railway, under its Train Timetable 2026, has undertaken a major expansion and rationalization of passenger services across the country.

The new timetable introduces 122 new trains, extends 86 existing services, increases the frequency of eight trains, upgrades 10 services to superfast status, and enhances the speed of 549 trains across various railway zones.

The initiative aims to improve connectivity, punctuality, and passenger convenience, while significantly reducing travel time on the key routes.

Indian Railway’s timetable zone-wise expansion highlights:

In Central Railway, 4 new trains were introduced, 6 services extended, speed was increased for 30 trains.

In the East Coast Railway, 4 new trains were introduced, 4 services were extended, and the speed was increased for 3 trains.

In East Central Railway, major expansion with 20 new trains, 20 service extensions, and speed increase for 12 trains.

In Eastern Railway, 6 new trains were introduced, 4 services were extended, and the speed was increased for 32 trains.

In North Central Railway, 2 new trains were introduced, 4 services were extended, the frequency was increased for 2 trains, and the speed was increased for 1 train.

In North Eastern Railway, 8 new trains were introduced, 4 services were extended, the frequency was increased for 2 trains, and the speed was increased for 12 trains.

In the Northeast Frontier Railway, 10 new trains were introduced, and the speed was increased for 36 trains.

In Northern Railway, 20 new trains were introduced, 10 services were extended, and the speed was increased for 24 trains.

In North West Railway, 12 new trains were introduced, 6 services were extended, the frequency was increased for 2 trains, and the speed was increased for 89 trains.

In Southern Railway, 6 new trains were introduced, 4 services were extended, 2 trains were upgraded to superfast, and the speed was increased for 75 trains.

In South Western Railway, 8 new trains were introduced, 6 services were extended, 8 trains were upgraded to superfast, and the speed was increased for a record 117 trains.

In the West Central Railway, 8 new trains were introduced, and the speed was increased for 27 trains.

In Western Railway, 10 new trains were introduced, 10 services were extended, the frequency was increased for 2 trains, and the speed was increased for 80 trains.

On the 122 new trains introduced under the Train Timetable 2026, 26 Amrit Bharat trains were launched, including 3 under TAG-TOD, 60 Mail/Express trains, including 8 through TAG-TOD, 28 Vande Bharat trains to boost semi-high-speed connectivity, 2 Rajdhani trains, 2 Jan Shatabdi trains, 2 Hamsafar trains, and 2 Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services.

These additions span Premium Express and Passenger categories, significantly strengthening inter-city and long-distance connectivity.

To reduce travel time and enhance punctuality, Indian Railways increased the speed of 549 trains nationwide.

As per the new timetable, 376 trains sped up by 5 to 15 minutes, 105 trains by 16 to 30 minutes, 48 trains by 31 to 59 minutes and 20 trains by 60 minutes or more.

The South Western Railway led the initiative with speed enhancements for the highest number of trains, including 10 services gaining over 60 minutes in reducing travel time.

Other notable contributions include speed increases for 89 trains in North Western Railway, 75 trains in Southern Railway, 80 trains in Western Railway, and the speed of 32 trains increased in Eastern Railway.

Commitment to faster and reliable rail travel:  

Overall, the Train Timetable 2026 reflects Indian Railways’ strong commitment to faster travel, improved punctuality, and enhanced passenger experience.

With large-scale speed upgrades, new train introductions, and service extensions across all zones, the revised timetable is expected to significantly improve operational efficiency and nationwide rail connectivity.

Also Read: Ashwini Vaishnaw conducts a surprise inspection of railway stations in Bihar.

EOM.