6 Trains For Bihar, 5 For UP: How These 2 States Became Top Beneficiaries Of Amrit Bharat Allocation

Last Updated:July 18, 2025, 15:05 IST

The 2.0 version of the Amrit Bharat trains, offering better facilities and a feel of Vande Bharat but without AC was released in 2025

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnav releases 3D model of Bettiah station which is being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Yojana, in Bihar's Bettiah, in February. (PTI)

The count of the operational Amrit Bharat Trains touched seven on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating four more trains from Bihar. Along with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar has emerged as the state with the highest number of these complete non-AC trains resembling the interior of the Vande Bharat trains.

Before Friday’s launch, only three Amrit Bharat trains were operational – Darbhanga–Delhi; Malda–Bengaluru; and Mumbai–Saharsa. The new services are between Patna and Delhi; Bapudham Motihari and Delhi; Darbhanga and Lucknow and Malda Town and Lucknow via Bhagalpur.

As clear from the operational routes, six Amrit Bharat trains are catering to Bihar – either origin, destination, or en route. Uttar Pradesh is the second most transit state with five train routes.

A total of three of these trains are coming to the national capital from different parts of Bihar.

With two trains originating from Malda in West Bengal, the state is at the next spot.

Amrit Bharat: The Affordable Cousin of Vande Bharat

Amrit Bharat trains were a Railway Minister’s response to criticism that Vande Bharat trains were unaffordable for common people. These trains were launched in 2024 and this year, the ministry released the 2.0 version of the Amrit Bharat trains, offering better facilities and a feel of Vande Bharat but without air conditioning.

ALSO READ: Amrit Bharat 2.0: An Affordable Cousin Of Vande Bharat For Economical Rail Travel

The train offers only sleeper and general class coaches for an affordable long distance journey. Each train has eight Sleeper coaches, 11 General coaches, and two luggage-cum-brake vans, along with one pantry car.

Bihar at the Centre of Amrit Bharat Push

Poll bound Bihar is at the focus of the ministry. Out of the seven Amrit Bharats, five originate from Bihar – Darbhanga–Delhi; Mumbai-Saharsa; Patna–Delhi; Bapudham Motihari–Delhi; and Darbhanga–Lucknow.

Malda Town–Lucknow via Bhagalpur, inaugurated on Friday, passes through Bihar. Malda–Bengaluru is the sole exception among trains not linked to Bihar.

The centre, in April, started the Mumbai-Saharsa Amrit Bharat train.

With six of the seven trains linked to Bihar, the state appears firmly at the centre of the Centre’s rail outreach this election season.

Patna-Delhi Train: Commercial Run from July 31

Speaking to News18, a Ministry official said that Amrit Bharat train (22361) – Rajendra Nagar Terminal to New Delhi – will be a daily train operating all days of the week.

“It will commence its regular service from Rajendra Nagar Terminal on July 31," the official said, demanding anonymity.

The train will start from Rajendra Nagar near Patna at 8.10 pm and will reach Delhi at 1.10 pm the next day, completing the journey in 17 hours at a cost of Rs 560. Patna and Delhi are already well connected. One of these trains, Sampoorna Kranti Express, completes the journey in just about 12 hours and costs Rs 520.

From Delhi, the regular services will start from August 1. From Delhi, the train – 22362 – will start at 7.10 pm daily and will reach Rajendra Nagar Terminal at 10.50 am the next day, as of the current details from the Ministry.

Timings and stoppages are subject to change based on public demand.

Malda Town-Gomti Nagar Amrit Bharat

The 13435 train – covering the distance between Malda and Lucknow in over 20 hours, will operate only once a week – Thursday – and the commercial services will start from July 24 as of now.

The sleeper class costs Rs 540 in this train as against Rs 465 in Farakka Express that covers the same journey in over 23 hours between the two cities. The cost for the 3AC is Rs 1,250 in Farakka Express.

From Lucknow, the train will operate only on Saturday – starting at 11 am and completing the close to 23 hours journey by around 10 am on Sunday. The commercial services will start from July 19 from Lucknow. The cost of the journey will be Rs 695 as against Farakka Express’s Rs 480. The cost of the journey for a passenger in the third AC class in Farakka Express – covering the distance in 25 hours – is Rs 1,285.

Darbhanga-Gomti Nagar Amrit Bharat

So far, the fastest train on the route was Bihar Sampark Kranti Express that covered the distance between Lucknow and Darbhanga in 13 hours and 20 minutes. The new Amrit Bharat will take 13 hours and 15 minutes.

The new train will charge Rs 535 for the sleeper class as against Rs 405 in Bihar Sampark Kranti Express. The cost of third AC travel on the route is about Rs 1,100.

This new Amrit Bharat train (05056) will operate only on Saturday as of now with commercial services starting on July 19. The commercial service from Darbhanga side (15561) will start from July 26. This train will also operate only on Saturday. The cost of journey from this side will be Rs 415.

It is also important to note that the existing Darbhanga–Delhi Amrit Bharat was also catering to Lucknow.

With assembly elections inching closer, the railway ministry’s aggressive push for affordable long-distance travel — especially in a politically critical state, Bihar— is being closely watched. Whether this boost in rail connectivity translates into electoral dividends will unfold in the coming months.

Nivedita Singh

Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived...Read More

Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived...

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