Railways to Launch 6 New Amrit Bharat Express Trains Through Odisha This Month
BHUBANESWAR – In a major boost to regional connectivity and affordable long-distance travel, Indian Railways is set to launch six new Amrit Bharat Express trains that will pass through Odisha. Scheduled for inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17 and 18, 2026, these services will expand the state’s Amrit Bharat network from a single existing train to a total of seven.
The expansion is part of the Indian Railways’ “Timetable of Trains (TAG) 2026” rollout, which aims to modernize the travel experience for middle-class and budget-conscious passengers.
New Routes & Key Stops
The six new routes connecting Southern, Eastern, and North-Eastern India include:
-
Tambaram – Santragachi
-
Tiruchirappalli – New Jalpaiguri
-
Bengaluru – Alipur Duar
-
Nagercoil – New Jalpaiguri
-
Bengaluru – Radhikapur
-
Bengaluru – Balurghat
While these trains span across several states, they will provide critical connectivity for Odisha by making scheduled halts at major hubs, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Balugaon, Khurda Road, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, and Balasore.
Often described as the “Vande Bharat for the common man,” the Amrit Bharat Express is a non-AC sleeper service designed for high-speed, long-distance travel.
-
Speed & Tech: The trains use a “push-pull” configuration with locomotives at both ends, allowing for faster acceleration and speeds of up to 130 kmph.
-
Upgraded Amenities: Passengers can expect modern LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches equipped with better seating, improved ventilation, modular toilets, and enhanced safety features like emergency braking systems.
-
Affordability: Unlike the premium Vande Bharat services, Amrit Bharat focuses on providing a high-quality experience at fares accessible to lower and middle-income travelers.
The launch of these six trains will coincide with the introduction of two new Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, marking a double victory for Odisha’s rail infrastructure this January.
For years, the journey from Odisha to the bustling hubs of Bengaluru or the tea gardens of North Bengal meant choosing between the steep prices of air travel or the aging infrastructure of traditional sleeper classes. This January, that narrative is changing.
Imagine a student from Berhampur heading to a college in Bengaluru, or a small-scale trader from Balasore looking to source goods from West Bengal. For them, it would be really helpful to travel.
Prime Minister Modi flags these services off on January 17th and 18th.
