Indian Railways is set to gift passengers a brand new overnight train service starting July 17. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually flag off the Sant Ravidas Express, a new train connecting Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Chheharta, Amritsar in Punjab. The train promises a comfortable overnight journey option that will benefit religious travellers, tourists, traders and long distance commuters alike, saving them time while making the journey far more convenient.
Full Schedule in Both Directions
Train number 14624 Chheharta-Varanasi Sant Ravidas Express will run every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, departing Chheharta at 2:05 PM. It will reach Amritsar at 14:25 and leave again at 14:30. The next morning it will arrive in Lucknow at 07:25, depart at 07:35, and finally reach Varanasi at 12:15 in the afternoon. On the return leg, train number 14623 Varanasi-Chheharta Sant Ravidas Express will run every Thursday, Saturday and Monday, leaving Varanasi at 7:50 PM. It will reach Lucknow at 00:10 at night and depart at 00:20. The following evening it will arrive in Amritsar at 16:35, leave at 16:40, and finally pull into Chheharta at 17:10 in the evening.
Major Stops Along the Route
For passenger convenience, the Sant Ravidas Express will halt at several important stations, including Amritsar, Jalandhar City, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, Sultanpur, Jaunpur City and Varanasi. With stops at so many major stations, millions of passengers across Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh stand to benefit directly, since they will no longer need connecting trains or long waits to travel between these regions.
Modern Facilities on Board
The new train has been equipped with a range of modern facilities. Passengers will get fully air conditioned sleeper coaches, comfortable berths, bio vacuum toilets, a digital passenger information system, CCTV surveillance, automatic doors and improved security arrangements. These features are expected to make the long distance journey considerably more comfortable and safer than before, particularly for those travelling through the night.
A Boost for Religious Tourism
The new service directly links two of the country's most significant religious and cultural cities. In Varanasi, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the Maa Annapurna Temple and the world famous Ganga Aarti performed at the river ghats draw lakhs of devotees every year. In Amritsar, the Sri Harmandir Sahib or Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Wagah Border remain top attractions for tourists from India and abroad. With a direct train now connecting the two cities, travel for pilgrims and tourists is set to become easier, giving religious tourism a fresh push.
