Southern Railway is finally all set to operate its first Amrit Bharat Express. This long-distance non-A/C train will run between Erode in Tamil Nadu and Jogbani in Bihar. PM Modi will flag off the train service on September 15. Here’s everything you need to know about this train service!
Southern Railway To Operate Its 1st Amrit Bharat Express Train
Indian Railways’ Amrit Bharat train is a non-air-conditioned, low-cost, superfast express service. Now, as per a report by The Times of India, Southern Railway is all set to operate its first Amrit Bharat service. After months of delay, this much-anticipated train will finally run between Erode in Tamil Nadu and Jogbani in Bihar.
The weekly service, numbered 16601/16602, will cover over 3,300 km across eight zones. As per reports, the train will depart from Erode every Thursday at 7 pm and return from Jogbani every Sunday at 7:30 am. It will run via Salem, Katpadi, Perambur, Vijayawada, Nagpur, Jabalpur, Patna, and Katihar. Along the way, it will also cover over 50 commercial halts, including key hubs like Itarsi and Barauni.
Also Read: Bihar Gets 4 New Amrit Bharat Express Trains; Routes, Timings & All You Need To Know
Train Service To Have 22 Coaches
Until Jogbani gets its own maintenance unit, the rake will be maintained at Erode and Katihar. Moreover, this new Amrit Bharat Express for Southern Railway will have 22 coaches, including eight second-class sitting cum luggage coaches, 11 second-class sitting coaches, and two brake-cum-luggage coaches. There will also be a separate coach for staff and tools.
As per a report by The New Indian Express, the train has been designed mainly for passengers who frequently travel between southern states and northern states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off this new Amrit Bharat weekly train on September 15. The deployment comes after months of delays. The Amrit Bharat rake was allotted to Southern Railway in February 2025 but remained unused due to various concerns, even as other zones launched their services. Now, with this rollout, travel between the south and north will become easier.
Also Read: 60 Northeast Railway Stations To Undergo Redevelopment Under Amrit Bharat Scheme
This is surely a positive update from Indian Railways. Authorities are also expecting to launch more Amrit Bharat services on other routes soon.
Cover Image Courtesy: Amrit Bharat Express, Wikipedia/ Sagar Agarwal