Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat flag off rail services from Jodhpur and inaugurated the Coach Care Complex, Jaisalmer
Jodhpur-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express will now run with 20 coaches, Sabarmati-Jodhpur Express extended up to Jaisalmer
At a programme organised on Friday at Jodhpur Railway Station under the Jodhpur Division of North Western Railway, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat dedicated rail services and projects to Rajasthan.
On this occasion, train number 04871, Jodhpur-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Superfast Express inauguration special rail service, was flagged off. At the same time, the coach composition of the Jodhpur-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express was increased from 8 coaches to 20 coaches and the extension of the Sabarmati-Jodhpur Express rail service up to Jaisalmer was announced along with the inauguration of the Coach Care Complex, Jaisalmer.
Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said that regular train number 26481/26482, Jodhpur-Delhi Cantt-Jodhpur Vande Bharat Superfast Express rail service, will have a total of 20 coaches from 24.05.2026 including 02 Executive Chair Cars, 16 Air Conditioned Chair Cars and 02 Driver Power Cars. This will provide more seats to passengers and significantly improve travel convenience.
On this occasion, Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Indian Railways is rapidly moving towards world-class facilities. He said that railways are not only a means of transport, but also the lifeline of the country, and unprecedented transformation has been seen in Indian Railways in the last 12 years. He said that Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw has given many gifts to Rajasthan and especially Jodhpur in recent times, which have opened new dimensions of development in the Marwar region. Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also expressed gratitude and thanks to the Union Railway Minister for railway works in Jodhpur, Pokhran and nearby areas and expressed hope that support for railway works would continue in the future as well. He also mentioned Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call for energy conservation and appealed to all to cooperate in it.
Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the residents of western Rajasthan have long been demanding more rail services, keeping which in mind new rail services have been started for many major cities including Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Mumbai. He said that the coaching terminal being built in Jodhpur will prove to be a milestone in railway development and will facilitate operation of new trains from across the country in future. A Vande Bharat Sleeper terminal is also being developed at Bhagat Ki Kothi.
He said that preparations are underway to start a new rail service from Jodhpur to Haridwar in the next 10 months. At present, Rajasthan is being given a record budget of about ₹10,000 crore for railway development, whereas earlier this amount was only ₹700-800 crore.
The Union Railway Minister said that doubling work is in progress on Dhangra-Bandikui, Ajmer-Chittorgarh, Luni-Bhildi, Rewari-Khatuwas and Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur rail sections in Rajasthan. At the same time, Marwar Junction-Mavli gauge conversion, tunnel construction and new rail line works are also being carried out at a fast pace. Work is also underway on new rail line projects to connect Pushkar and Ambaji to the railway network.
Towards a better future with better rail facilities
The Union Ministers also inaugurated the newly built Coach Care Complex in Jaisalmer constructed at a cost of ₹67 crore. This project will increase train maintenance capacity, enable operation of more trains and provide better rail facilities to passengers.
The Golden City Jaisalmer is extremely important from tourism and strategic points of view. Sonar Fort, Patwon Ki Haveli, Bada Bagh and the Thar Desert are major attractions for tourists from India and abroad. The new rail facility will strengthen connectivity to Jaisalmer, boost tourism and create new employment opportunities in the region. At the same time, passengers travelling to Jodhpur and Ahmedabad for medical treatment and education will get better facilities.
The Union Railway Minister said that glimpses of Rajasthan’s culture, heritage and valour will now also be visible at railway stations. Redevelopment work of Jaisalmer Railway Station has been completed and he appealed to people to visit the station once. Jaipur Station is being developed on the Pink City theme and construction work at Pali Station is also progressing rapidly. He said that railway stations are now being developed as tourism centres of cities.
He said that 25 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals are being developed in Rajasthan, out of which 12 have been completed. These projects will provide wide benefits to trade, tourism and passengers.
Extension of Sabarmati-Jodhpur Express up to Jaisalmer
Train number 20486, Sabarmati-Jaisalmer daily superfast express rail service, was virtually flagged off. This train will depart from Sabarmati at 07.00 AM from 23.05.2026, arrive at Jodhpur station at 14.40 PM, depart at 14.50 PM and reach Jaisalmer at 20.30 PM.
Similarly, train number 20485, Jaisalmer-Sabarmati daily superfast express rail service, will depart from Jaisalmer at 06.30 AM from 23.05.2026, arrive at Jodhpur station at 11.40 AM, depart at 11.50 AM and reach Sabarmati at 20.00 PM.
At the end of the programme, the Union Railway Minister expressed confidence that after completion of the current projects, Rajasthan will get the benefit of more than 200 new rail services and the state will be among the leading states of the country in the field of railway development. On this occasion, Rajya Sabha MP Shri Rajendra Gehlot, Bilara MLA Shri Arjun Ram Garg, Phalodi MLA Shri Pabba Ram Bishnoi, Jodhpur MLA Shri Atul Bhansali, Soorsagar MLA Shri Devendra Joshi, North Western Railway General Manager Shri Amitabh, Divisional Railway Manager Shri Anurag Tripathi and local public representatives and officials were present.
