New weekly train from Terai to Nanded flagged off, passenger train route extended

Pilibhit: Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday flagged off a new weekly Tanakpur-Hazur Sahib Nanded Express and inaugurated the extension of Tanakpur-Pilibhit passenger train up to Shahjahanpur junction, through video conferencing from Rail Sadan in Bhubaneshwar.Minister of state for railway & food processing industries, Ravneet Singh, and minister of state for road transport & highways Ajay Tamta flagged off both trains from Tanakpur junction, while minister of state for electronics, IT & commerce Jitin Prasada flagged off the trains from Pilibhit junction.Prasada said the new train will establish a direct rail link between the Terai region and the revered pilgrimage site of Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the Sikh community in UP. “The launch makes regular travel to one of the Panj Takhts much easier and more convenient,” Prasada said.Prasada said the extension of the passenger train will facilitate a seamless journey for students, farmers, businessmen and tourists between Shahjahanpur and Tanakpur via Pilibhit.Addressing a gathering of public representatives, party workers and eminent citizens, he also announced the proposal of a new train between Tanakpur and Amritsar to make it easier for Sikhs of the Terai region to visit the Golden Temple.

Sumit Kumar, chief public relations officer at North Eastern Railway’s Gorakhpur headquarters, said the Tanakpur-Nanded weekly train will depart from Tanakpur every Tuesday at 9am, reaching its final destination at 6pm on the third day. The Nanded-Tanakpur express will begin service from July 12, leaving Nanded every Sunday at 11.40pm and arriving in Tanakpur at 5.55am on the third day.“The train will have 19 coaches, including four general bogies, eight coaches of second sleeper class, four coaches of AC 3-tier and an AC 2-tier coach,” he added.