Sun Feb 15 13:50:17 UTC 2026: ### Udaipur-Asarwa Vande Bharat Express Begins Ticket Bookings, Reducing Travel Time

The Story:
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has commenced ticket bookings for the new Vande Bharat Express operating between Udaipur City in Rajasthan and Asarva (near Ahmedabad) in Gujarat. This semi-high-speed train, maintained and operated by the North Western Railway (NWR) zone, aims to reduce travel time between the two cities by an hour. Developed by BEML using ICF (Integral Coach Factory, Chennai) technology, the train is designed for speeds up to 180 kmph.

Key Points:

  • The Udaipur-Asarva Vande Bharat Express will cover 296 km in 04:15 hrs.
  • Train number 26963/26964 will halt at three stations: Zawar, Dungarpur, and Himmat Nagar.
  • The train will consist of 7 AC chair car coaches and 1 executive AC chair car coach.
  • Ticket price for AC Chair Car is Rs 900, and for Executive Chair Car is Rs 1680.
  • The inaugural run commenced on February 16, 2026.

Key Takeaways:

  • The introduction of the Udaipur-Asarva Vande Bharat Express marks a continued expansion of India’s semi-high-speed rail network.
  • This new service will improve connectivity and reduce travel time between Rajasthan and Gujarat, potentially boosting tourism and economic activity.
  • The competitive pricing of the Vande Bharat Express, as suggested by previous reports concerning the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, aims to attract passengers from both rail and air travel.
  • The timing of the launch, coinciding with the 7th anniversary of the Vande Bharat Express (February 15, 2026), suggests a strategic effort to highlight the progress and achievements of this train service.

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