Travel is set to become significantly smoother for pilgrims visiting the sacred town of Haridwar in Uttarakhand and those heading to major religious sites across the country. In a major boost to connectivity between western India and Uttarakhand, the Railway Ministry has granted approval for the operation and route extension of three vital train services. Under this initiative, Haridwar will now enjoy seamless, direct rail access to the financial capital Mumbai, as well as two prominent pilgrimage hubs in Gujarat, Somnath and Dwarka. This expanded rail corridor eliminates the need for multi-leg journeys across Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Garib Rath Express Route Extended from Bandra to Haridwar
Under the ministry's clearance, train number 12216/12215 Bandra Terminus-Delhi Sarai Rohilla Garib Rath Express will now run all the way to Haridwar. Previously, this economical air-conditioned service operated strictly between Bandra Terminus and Delhi Sarai Rohilla. Extending its route directly to Haridwar provides budget-conscious AC train travelers from both Mumbai and Delhi with a comfortable, uninterrupted transit option. This move deepens rail integration between Maharashtra and Uttarakhand while drastically cutting down the inconvenience of switching trains in Delhi for northbound passengers.
Direct Connectivity to Somnath via Veraval Service
To assist pilgrims planning visits to the revered Somnath Jyotirlinga, authorities have introduced train number 14326/14325 Haridwar-Veraval Express. Linking Uttarakhand directly with Veraval in Gujarat, this service offers straightforward transit to nearby Somnath. According to the scheduled timetable, the train will depart from Haridwar every Wednesday and Sunday at 4:00 AM, arriving in Veraval the following day at 8:15 AM. On the return run, the train will leave Veraval every Thursday and Monday at 11:05 AM, reaching Haridwar at 6:00 PM the next evening.
Seamless Link to Dwarka via Okha Service
Devotees traveling to the holy city of Dwarka will benefit from train number 14328/14327 Haridwar-Okha Express. The train connects Haridwar with Okha in Gujarat, opening up an uninterrupted rail choice for travelers bound for Dwarka. As per the schedule, this service will depart Haridwar every Friday at 4:00 AM and pull into Okha the next morning at 8:15 AM. The return leg from Okha will operate every Saturday.
Enhanced Facilities at Major Junctions and Tourism Boost
Because Haridwar, Somnath, and Dwarka rank among India's most frequented pilgrimage destinations, these direct services will serve a wide range of passengers, including religious travelers, vacationers, business travelers, and students. To maintain passenger comfort across long routes, dedicated arrangements for coach cleaning and water refilling have been instituted at key junction stations such as Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer, and Rajkot. The enhanced connectivity is expected to fortify interstate transit networks and give a meaningful lift to domestic religious tourism.
