The Vande Bharat Express train number 20978, running between Chandigarh and Ajmer, has undergone a transformation, now sporting a saffron color. Passengers at Ambala Cantt railway station were surprised to see the new look of the train on Thursday. The train's TTE was seen wearing traditional Rajasthani attire, including a turban....
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This, however, was not a directive from the railway but a personal choice reflecting his Rajasthani identity. The train departed for Delhi after a brief halt of 2 minutes. Initially, when the Chandigarh-Ajmer Vande Bharat operations commenced in March, the train was painted in white and blue, similar to the existing Vande Bharat running between New Delhi and Katra. The Chandigarh-Ajmer Vande Bharat, train numbers 20978 and 77, began operations on March 14th. The Chandigarh-bound Vande Bharat stops at platform 7, while the Ajmer-bound train halts at platform 1 in Ambala Cantt. The Ajmer-bound train (20977) departs at 6:20 AM and arrives in Ambala Cantt at 2:03 PM and Chandigarh at 2:45 PM. The return train (20978) leaves at 3:15 PM, reaching Ambala Cantt at 3:55 PM and Ajmer at 11:55 PM. The train has scheduled stops in both directions at Jaipur, Alwar, Gurugram, Delhi Cantt, and Ambala Cantt.

The Vande Bharat Express, a semi-high-speed train, was first launched in India in 2019. Currently, 34 Vande Bharat Express trains operate on various routes across the country. In Rajasthan, there are currently three Vande Bharat Express trains operating on three different routes: 1) Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express (20977) connecting Ajmer...
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to Delhi Cantt (the first Vande Bharat train in Rajasthan), 2) Udaipur City-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express (20979) connecting Udaipur City to Jaipur, and 3) Jodhpur-Sabarmati Vande Bharat Express (12461) connecting Jodhpur to Sabarmati. These trains operate in both directions.

Passengers are requesting the operation of Vande Bharat Express trains between religious destinations. This includes the demand for Vande Bharat services between Haridwar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, as well as Chandigarh and Shirdi. Responding to this demand, the railway has prepared a proposal to launch Vande Bharat Express...
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trains connecting these destinations. This includes initiating the process for launching Vande Bharat trains between Chandigarh and Shirdi, and Haridwar and Katra-Jammu. A proposal will soon be prepared by the Ambala Division and sent to headquarters. Currently, there is only one direct train between Haridwar and Katra, the Hemkunt Express, often leaving passengers without seats. The demand for a Vande Bharat train on the Chandigarh-Shirdi route stems from the increasing passenger numbers and limited availability on the existing train, resulting in waiting tickets. Ambala Cantt railway station currently operates 10 Vande Bharat Express trains. These trains have increased passenger traffic, with approximately 600-700 passengers travelling daily from Ambala. This has also resulted in an additional income of ₹10-15 lakh for the railway. The number of passengers is expected to increase in the coming days. Officials report receiving numerous requests from passengers regarding train operations to religious sites. Proposals for a Chandigarh-Shirdi and Haridwar-Katra Vande Bharat service will soon be submitted to headquarters to provide passengers with enhanced convenience.

The Indian Railways is considering running Vande Bharat Express trains connecting religious sites based on public demand. Proposals for running Vande Bharat trains between Chandigarh-Shirdi and Haridwar-Katra are being prepared. This initiative stems from numerous requests received through various channels, including social media, highlighting the need for faster and more comfortable...
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travel between these popular religious destinations. The current lack of sufficient seating on existing trains, particularly the Hemkunt Express between Haridwar and Katra, often forces passengers to reschedule or cancel their journeys. Similarly, the high demand on the Chandigarh-Shirdi route results in waiting list tickets for most passengers.

The Vande Bharat Express, train numbers 20978 and 20977, will start operating between Chandigarh and Ajmer from Thursday. The train will have a stop at Ambala Cantt station. The Chandigarh to Ajmer train will depart from platform 1 and the Ajmer to Chandigarh train from platform 7. As of now, almost...
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400 seats are available in the chair car class for the Chandigarh-bound train, but the executive class is fully booked with a waiting list of 5. Similarly, the Ajmer-bound train has 80 seats available in the chair car class and 11 seats are on the waiting list for the executive class. To accommodate the Vande Bharat Express, the railway has adjusted the timings of three other trains. Train number 15011, the Lucknow-Chandigarh Express, will now arrive at Ambala Cantt station at 2:10 PM. Train number 06997, Ambala-Daulatpur Chowk, will depart at 1:40 PM and train number 04590, Ambala-Kurukshetra, will depart at 4:33 PM. The Vande Bharat Express will run between Ajmer and Chandigarh from March 14th. The train will depart from Ajmer at 6:20 AM and reach Ambala Cantt at 2:03 PM and Chandigarh at 2:45 PM. The return journey will depart at 3:15 PM from Chandigarh, reaching Ambala Cantt at 3:55 PM and Ajmer at 11:55 PM. The train will have stops at Jaipur, Alwar, Gurugram, Delhi Cantt, and Ambala Cantt in both directions.