ER, SER announce reduced journey time, new trains

With the railways following a new time table from 1 January 2026, the Eastern Railway has introduced improved train running algorithm and optimisation of path resulting in considerable reduction in journey time in the latest schedule.

This reduction in journey time will in turn increase operational flexibility and will make for provision of accommodating more trains.

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As learnt from the Eastern Railway office, the new time table includes provision of extension of six Howrah – Arambagh – Howrah EMU locals up to Goghat, two Howrah – Tarakeswar – Howrah EMU locals and four Tarakeswar – Arambagh – Tarakeswar EMU locals up to Goghat. IN Sealdah, one Sealdah – Ranaghat EMU local is to be extended up to Shantipur, one BBD Bag – Barrackpore EMU local is to go up to Kalyani and one Barrackpore – Sealdah EMU local is to be operated up to Kalyani to cater to the demand of the commuters in the suburban section.

In addition, Burdwan – Tinpahar trains would also be extended up to Sahibganj. Apart from this, timings of 45 mail/express trains and 203 EMU/MEMU/DEMU/passenger trains have also been revised.

Notably, the ER achieved many important milestones in modernising infrastructure, increasing capacity, and improving passenger facilities from January to December this year. As a part of the inaugural of multiple redeveloped stations of Eastern Railway under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, five crucial stations including Kalyani Ghoshpara, Panagarh, Rajmahal, Shankarpur and Pirpainti station were inaugurated this year. Also, the foundation stone for augmentation of wagon Periodical Overhauling (POH) capacity was laid at Jamalpur Locomotive Workshop while Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) near Andal and Madhupur Coaching Complex for round trip maintenance were also commissioned.

In the area of passenger services and connectivity, Eastern Railway introduced at least four express trains namely Humsafar Express between Sealdah and Jalpaiguri Road, Malda Town–Lucknow Amrit Bharat Express via Bhagalpur, Godda–Daurai (Ajmer) Weekly Express, 13125/13126 Kolkata–Sairang tri-weekly Express. Additionally, Purulia–Bankura–Howrah MEMU train via Masagram playing a crucial role in improving suburban and regional mobility along with AC local trains in Sealdah Division were also introduced this year apart from other implemented measures.

Meanwhile, South Eastern Railway has announced three new trains in its jurisdiction in the new time table which is to come into effect from 1 January, 2026.

The new services include trains between Howrah and Purulia, Tatanagar and Chakulia and Tatanagar and Chaibasa. All the three trains are MEMU passenger trains running almost daily with a break of one day in up and down directions except 68137/68138 Tatanagar – Chaibasa MEMU train which is to run daily. Apart from this, the divisional railway has declared experimental stoppages of 66 trains and changed the timings of 64 trains. Furthermore, the SER authorities have decided to change the terminal station of two trains including Shalimar Chennai Coromandel Express and Shalimar Puri Dhauli Express.