- Sant Ravidas Express will be flagged off on July 17, connecting Chheharta in Amritsar and Varanasi
- It will operate tri-weekly via the shortest rail route between Amritsar and Varanasi
- Journey duration is about 21 hours with stops at major cities like Ludhiana and Lucknow
Travellers and devotees heading to Varanasi from Punjab and vice versa are set to get a new rail link later this week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off the Sant Ravidas Express on July 17 - a new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express service connecting Chheharta in Amritsar with Varanasi. Designed to improve connectivity between two important centres of faith, the train is expected to benefit thousands of pilgrims, particularly members of the Ravidasi community who regularly travel to Varanasi. The service will operate via the shortest rail route between the two cities and is being seen as a significant step towards strengthening religious tourism and travel in general.
A New Rail Link For Religious Tourism
The Sant Ravidas Express is expected to play an important role in improving access to the Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Temple at Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, one of the most revered sites for followers of Guru Ravidas.
The Ravidasi community has a strong presence across Punjab's Doaba region, and the new train is expected to make journeys to Varanasi more convenient for devotees visiting the shrine throughout the year.
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Schedule And Days Of Operation
According to railway authorities, the service has received approval from the Railway Board and will initially operate on a tri-weekly schedule.
From Chheharta:
- Wednesday
- Friday
- Sunday
From Varanasi:
- Thursday
- Saturday
- Monday
Route And Key Stops
The train will stop at several major stations along the route, including:
- Amritsar
- Jalandhar City
- Ludhiana
- Ambala Cantt
- Saharanpur
- Moradabad
- Bareilly
- Shahjahanpur
- Lucknow
- Sultanpur
- Jaunpur City
Also Read: 5 Vande Bharat Routes Perfect For 48-Hour Weekend Trips
Train Timings
14624 Cheharta-Varanasi Sant Ravidas Express
- Departure from Chheharta: 2:05 pm
- Arrival at Varanasi: 12:15 pm the following day
14623 Varanasi-Chheharta Sant Ravidas Express
- Departure from Varanasi: 7:50 pm
- Arrival at Chheharta: 5:10 pm the following day
The journey is expected to take around 21 hours and 20 minutes.
What Passengers Can Expect
The Sant Ravidas Express is being introduced as a fully air-conditioned sleeper service and will feature several modern passenger amenities, including:
- Ergonomically designed berths
- Bio-vacuum toilets
- Passenger information systems
- CCTV surveillance
- Automatic doors
- Enhanced safety features
- Improved onboard comfort
Ticket Booking Details Awaited
Indian Railways is yet to announce details regarding fare structure, ticket bookings and the date of commencement of regular commercial operations. These are expected to be released closer to the train's official launch.
