- Ranchi Railway Division proposes 25 new train services.
- Includes Vande Bharat, Superfast, Express, and MEMU trains.
- Aims to boost connectivity and meet passenger demand.
The Ranchi Railway Division has drawn up a roadmap to introduce around 25 new train services to cater to rising passenger demand, industrial growth and increasing rail traffic in the region. The proposed expansion includes long-distance Superfast and Express trains, along with Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat and regional MEMU services.
Though the Railway Board and SE Railway Headquarters will be taking a final decision, the division has already handed over its proposals. It has further requested permission to permanently attach additional coaches to seven major trains to minimise the wait lists and make the journey more comfortable for the passengers.
While railway officials felt a direct connection with a majority of southern and western India as well as north Indian cities was still missing to Ranchi, they also said the demand for a direct train to Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bhopal, Indore, Nagpur and Surat was rising.
Better transport facilities to religious and education centre Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi are also being planned under the division.
More Vande Bharat Services Under Consideration
The proposal also includes additional Vande Bharat Express services connecting Ranchi with Bhubaneswar, Tatanagar and Patna. Officials said the strong passenger response to the Ranchi-Varanasi Vande Bharat has strengthened the case for introducing more semi-high-speed trains on other routes.
Railway authorities said the introduction of new services will depend on the completion of key infrastructure projects. Work is currently underway on the third and fourth railway lines between Ranchi and Hatia, station redevelopment projects and other capacity enhancement works aimed at supporting increased train operations.
Apart from long-distance trains, the division is also considering introducing new MEMU services or increasing their frequency on the Ranchi-Lohardaga, Ranchi-Tori, Hatia-Barkakana, Ranchi-Bokaro-Dhanbad and Ranchi-Muri routes.
The move is expected to benefit thousands of daily commuters travelling for work, education and business.
Rail Budget to Accelerate Expansion
The Rs 7,536 crore allocation for Jharkhand in the 2026-27 Railway Budget is expected to provide a major boost to rail infrastructure in the state. According to railway officials, several rail projects worth thousands of crores are currently under execution, paving the way for new train services in the coming years.
Proposed Train Services
Although the Ranchi Railway Division has not officially released the final list of 25 trains, the following routes are among the strongest contenders based on passenger demand and ongoing infrastructure development:
* Ranchi-Pune Superfast
* Ranchi-Hyderabad Express
* Ranchi-Chennai Express
* Ranchi-Coimbatore/Ernakulam Express
* Ranchi-Jaipur Express
* Ranchi-Ayodhya-Lucknow Express
* Ranchi-Varanasi Intercity
* Ranchi-Prayagraj Express
* Ranchi-Guwahati Express
* Ranchi-Bhubaneswar Vande Bharat
* Second Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat service
* Ranchi-Tatanagar Vande Bharat
* Ranchi-Bokaro-Dhanbad MEMU
* Fifth Ranchi-Lohardaga MEMU
* Ranchi-Tori MEMU
* Hatia-Barkakana MEMU
* Ranchi-Dumka Express
* Ranchi-Deoghar Express
* Ranchi-Rourkela Intercity
* Ranchi-Bilaspur Express
* Ranchi-Nagpur Express
* Ranchi-Indore Express
* Ranchi-Bhopal Express
* Ranchi-Surat Express
* Second daily Ranchi-Mumbai Superfast
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said he has raised the issue with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking direct train services from Ranchi to major cities across the country, particularly destinations in South India.
"The Ranchi Railway Division is working on several future projects. New trains will begin operating in the next few years. I have met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and requested the introduction of train services from Ranchi to major cities across the country, including South India," Seth said.