• By Akansha Pandey
  • Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:31 PM (IST)
  • Source:Jagran News Network
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After a month-long delay, the Vande Bharat Express has finally commenced its regular service between Lucknow and Saharanpur. The train departed from Gomtinagar for Saharanpur on Tuesday carrying 221 passengers.

The service, originally inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, faced delays after Saharanpur MLAs requested a timetable change from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Consequently, the Railway Board has revised both the timing and the terminal station (shifting from Lucknow Junction to Gomtinagar).

New Timetable And Route

Train No. 26503: Saharanpur to Gomtinagar

  • Departure: Saharanpur at 05:05 am
  • Arrival: Gomtinagar at 02:05 pm
  • Stops: Roorkee (05:40 am), Najibabad (06:25 am), Moradabad (08:00 am), Bareilly (09:40 am), Shahjahanpur (11:07 am), Sitapur (12:36 pm), Daliganj (01:34 pm).
  • Fare: AC Chair Car: Rs 1,530 and Executive Class: Rs 2,750

Train No. 26504: Gomtinagar to Saharanpur

  • Departure: Gomtinagar at 03:10 pm
  • Arrival: Saharanpur at 11:50 pm
  • Stops: Daliganj (03:28 pm), Sitapur (04:33 pm), Shahjahanpur (06:08 pm), Bareilly (07:05 pm), Moradabad (08:35 pm), Najibabad (09:54 pm), Roorkee (10:42 pm).

Fare Structure (From Gomtinagar)

Station AC Chair Car (Rs) Executive Class (Rs)
Sitapur 495 930
Shahjahanpur 645 1,235
Bareilly 770 1,480
Moradabad 1,135 2,025
Najibabad 1,290 2,335
Roorkee 1,420 2,605
Saharanpur 1,460 2,685

Key Updates And Passenger Concerns

1. Mandatory Catering: Passengers booking tickets online must mandatorily select and pay for the catering option. The "opt-out" facility for meals is currently unavailable for this train.

2. Low Demand And Occupancy: The shift in schedule (afternoon departure from Lucknow instead of morning) and the change in terminal station have impacted popularity.

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  • Vacant Seats: Currently, 60 per cent to 70 per cent of seats in both classes are running vacant.
  • Connectivity Issues: Gomtinagar station lacks direct connectivity to public transport systems, forcing passengers to rely on private cabs or auto-rickshaws.

3. Current Availability (Vacant Seats)

Date AC Chair Car Executive Class
10 December 326 30
11 December 367 28
12 December 376 22
13 December 382 33
14 December 371 32
16 December 388 31

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