Tatanagar-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express: Jharkhand is set to receive another major boost in rail connectivity with the upcoming launch of a new Vande Bharat Express between Tatanagar and Varanasi . Preparations are in full swing to start the high-speed train service by July 2025.

Once operational, the train will reduce the travel time for the 600-kilometre journey to just a few hours, offering a faster and more comfortable option for passengers as per a report by Live Hindustan.

As part of the groundwork, Tatanagar Railway Station’s Washing Line No. 3 has been upgraded with high-tension power supply facilities. This will be used for cleaning and repairing Vande Bharat train coaches. Additionally, new Galvanized Iron Pipes (GI pipes) are being installed to support maintenance work.

Although railway officials have not officially confirmed the new route, sources suggest that the Railway Board is working on launching a sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train between Tatanagar and Varanasi by September 2024. In fact, high-tension cables were already installed on Washing Line No. 1 in August 2024 for this purpose.

Currently, Vande Bharat trains from Tatanagar operate to Patna (Bihar) and Berhampur (Odisha), while the Ranchi–Howrah (since September 2023) and Rourkela–Howrah (starting September 2024) Vande Bharat trains pass through Tatanagar six days a week. The new service to Varanasi is expected to benefit passengers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, especially since there’s currently no daily train between Tatanagar and Varanasi .

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In another development, the railways plan to build a new sick line (maintenance track) in the Loco Colony area of Tatanagar. A survey for this project was completed in June 2024. The Chakradharpur Division has already sent a proposal to the South Eastern Railway Zone. Once approved, construction will begin immediately.

Due to the increasing number of Vande Bharat trains and their repair needs, the existing facilities are facing strain, which is also affecting the upkeep of other trains. Earlier, there were plans to set up a maintenance centre in Kudada, but the idea was dropped because of its distance from the station. Now, the aim is to create a facility at Tatanagar that can handle the repair and cleaning of two Vande Bharat trains at the same time.