A new Vande Bharat Express train is planned to operate between Kathgodam and Dehradun. This will be the third train option for people traveling from Kumaon to Dehradun. Currently, only two trains run between the two stations: the Janshatabdi, which departs from Dehradun in the morning, and the Kathgodam-Dehradun Express, which...
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runs only at night. The new Vande Bharat train will be a daytime service, providing more convenient travel options. This will be the first Vande Bharat train operating in the Kumaon region. Initially, there were plans to start a Vande Bharat train between Delhi and Dehradun, but the route has been changed to Kathgodam-Dehradun. However, an official announcement is yet to be made. The first Vande Bharat Express in Uttarakhand was launched on May 29, 2023, connecting Dehradun and Delhi. It is a semi-high-speed train that was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 25, 2023.

A Vande Bharat train service between Kathgodam and Dehradun is likely to be launched soon. This will provide a third train option between Kumaon and Dehradun. Currently, a Vande Bharat train operates between Dehradun and Delhi. The Minister of State for Defence and Tourism has written to the Railways...
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requesting the service. Earlier, it was speculated that the train might start for Delhi, but railway sources suggest that it is more likely to be operated between Kathgodam and Dehradun.

There is a strong possibility that the long-awaited direct train connection between Moradabad and Mumbai could become a reality in the new year. The proposal to extend the existing trains running from Bandra Terminal to Hazrat Nizamuddin to Kathgodam has gained momentum. This initiative was championed by Moradabad's Samajwadi Party (SP)...
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MP, Dr. ST Hasan, who has repeatedly brought the need for Mumbai connectivity to the attention of both Parliament and railway officials. The railway authorities are now taking the proposal seriously. The extended train route is expected to pass through Moradabad and Bareilly before reaching Kathgodam. The demand for a direct train between Moradabad and Mumbai has been a long-standing one, expressed by both ordinary residents and exporters. The railway administration had previously declined the proposal, citing the absence of a washing line for train maintenance in Moradabad. However, with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, there has been a renewed discussion on potentially approving the proposal. Dr. Hasan has proposed extending two existing trains, the Yuva Express (12247) and the Sampark Kranti Express (12908), from Bandra Terminal to Hazrat Nizamuddin to Kathgodam, effectively fulfilling Moradabad's long-held aspiration. While Senior DCM Sudhir Singh has stated that he is not aware of the proposal, the final decision rests with the Railway Board. Dr. Hasan has sent a letter to the DRM of Moradabad on December 9th, 2023, advocating for the train's operation. The extension of the train to Kathgodam is anticipated to benefit passengers in Rudrapur, Bareilly, Rampur, Moradabad, Hapur, and Ghaziabad.

The extension of the Vande Bharat Express to Kathgodam is a significant milestone, connecting the holy sites of Baba Vishwanath and Kedarnath Dham directly, benefiting millions of pilgrims. The extension will also facilitate smoother travel for numerous workers from eastern Uttar Pradesh working in Haldwani, Nainital, Rudrapur, Kathgodam, and surrounding areas....
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This connectivity will strengthen the existing ties between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, offering convenient and comfortable travel between cities like Kanpur, Lucknow, and the capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun. The 458-kilometer route between Kanpur Central and Kathgodam, with a potential extension to Varanasi (776 kilometers), is also suitable for a sleeper version of Vande Bharat, providing both chair car and sleeper options. The proposed route includes Kanpur Central, Lucknow Junction, Shahjahanpur Junction, Bareilly Junction, Rampur, Bilaspur Road, Rudrapur City, Lalkuan Junction, Haldwani, and Kathgodam. Vijay Kumar Mishra, a member of the North Central Railway Advisory Committee, has been advocating for the extension since 2021 and plans to write to the Railway Minister and the Railway Board to garner support for the project.

The railway track at Haldwani railway station in Uttarakhand was damaged by floods from the Gaula river during the monsoon. Repairs have been ongoing for an extended period. This damage impacted the planned introduction of the Vande Bharat Express train between Kathgodam and New Delhi, which was initially anticipated before the...
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Lok Sabha elections. However, due to the track damage, a survey for the Vande Bharat Express on this route could not be conducted. Despite this, the operation of the Vande Bharat Express on this line is planned, and if all goes well, it is likely to be launched between Kathgodam-New Delhi and Kathgodam-Dehradun in the future. The Railway Ministry is actively promoting the expansion of the Vande Bharat network. It is expected that six new Vande Bharat trains will be launched in Lucknow within six months, potentially starting before the Lok Sabha elections. Surveys for Vande Bharat Express trains between Lucknow and Patna, as well as Lucknow and Dehradun, have been completed. The Railway Ministry is planning to launch several Vande Bharat Express routes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, including routes from Lucknow to Patna, Mumbai, Puri, Katra, Dehradun, and Meerut. The railway officials have accelerated preparations for the operation of new trains. The Vande Bharat Express service between Delhi and Varanasi is currently operational, with a plan to introduce a second train on the same route due to passenger demand. A survey for this has been completed.