Almost 30 years after the Udyan Express began, Indian Railways has approved a second direct Superfast train between Bengaluru and Mumbai, according to the Indian Express.
This new service meets a long-standing demand from passengers in both Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Indian Railways Approves Second Direct Superfast Train Between Bengaluru and Mumbai After 30 Years
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi thanked Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on X (formerly Twitter) for sanctioning the new direct Bengaluru–Mumbai Superfast train that connects the two state capitals.
Joshi said, “I had requested the Union Railway Minister for this train, which has been our long-standing demand. This Super Fast train will run via the central Karnataka route of Tumakuru, Davanagere, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Belagavi to the commercial city of Mumbai, benefiting lakhs of people through this rail connectivity and further boosting trade and commerce.”
In another post, Joshi mentioned that for the last 30 years there has been a continuous demand for a Super Fast Train, the Udyan Express, that directly connects Bengaluru and Mumbai.
The new Bengaluru–Mumbai Superfast train will travel through central Karnataka, passing major cities such as Tumakuru, Davanagere, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Belagavi before reaching Mumbai.
Currently, the Udyan Express takes the Bengaluru–Guntakal–Solapur route, covering 1,153 kilometers in 23 hours and 35 minutes with 31 stops along the way.
The new Superfast train running via central Karnataka is expected to greatly improve travel connectivity between Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Indian Railways Allows Date Change For Confirmed E-Tickets, For Free
We recently reported that in a major passenger-friendly move, Indian Railways will soon allow travellers to change the travel date of confirmed train tickets online — without any extra charges. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the new system will be implemented from January 2025, describing the existing process as “unfair” and inconvenient for passengers.
Currently, passengers who wish to change their travel date after booking online must cancel their existing ticket and book a new one, often incurring cancellation charges.
With the new policy, travellers will be able to reschedule their journey date directly on the IRCTC website or app, avoiding the need to cancel and rebook.
