When you check New Delhi Kanpur Lucknow section there is only one intercity Gomti express and rest 3 Shatabdi/Tejas express. Being a 430/500km stretch they will be intermediate towns which need connectivity fast and slow to go to either New Delhi or Kanpur/lucknow being their state capital and biggest cities. The sections in UP though having 10+lacs population have very less intercity trains compared to South India.
Leave Shatabdi as it is and introduce new trains which are faster. New Delhi Lucknow Ayodhya VB with 16Coaches with Gaziabad Kanpur Lucknow as halts those who want faster connection will travel by VB others with intermediate destinations will travel by Shatabdi. This section need one 2 more intercity with Non AC...
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and AC intercity express in opp directions which have lesser stoppages then Gomti and faster. Not everyone can travel in Shatabdi and Vande Bharats.

Intercities needed
1. New Delhi Lucknow Dep 630 Kanpur 1230 Lucknow 1400/1430 New Delhi 2200
2. Lucknow New Delhi/Kanpur Dep 615 after Tejas
3. Kanpur Varanasi Dep 600 Prayag 900 Varanasi 1130 /1600 Kanpur 2130.
4. Gorakpur Lucknow intercity should be extended to Kanpur
5. Reverse Kanpur Gorakpur
6. Bareily Lucknow Varanasi/Prayag.