Vande Bharat Express running between Gorakhpur and Lucknow will now reach Prayagraj. The timetable will be released soon. What will be the fare between Prayagraj and Lucknow has not been decided yet but it will be higher as compared to intercity.
Prayagraj: The wait for the superfast train to run between the two major cities of UP, Prayagraj and Lucknow, is over. Vande Bharat Express running between Gorakhpur and Lucknow will now go to Prayagraj. Prayagraj Division of North Central Railway (NCR) has received its approval from the Railway Board. It will leave from Gorakhpur at 6.05 am and reach Lucknow at 10.20 am. It will leave from Lucknow at 10.35 and reach Prayagraj at 13.35. In return, it will leave from Prayagraj at 15.15 pm and reach Lucknow at 18.15 pm. It will leave from Lucknow at 18.30 hrs and reach Gorakhpur at 22.40 hrs.
The date of commencement of operations will be decided at the local level. This train will also stop for some time at Rae Bareli railway station. The train time table does not yet mention the stoppage time at Rae Bareli station, as it has not been decided. The date of operation of the train on Prayagraj route will be decided at the end of this week. At present the Intercity Express running from Prayagraj takes four hours and five minutes to reach Lucknow. Bareilly-Prayagraj Ganga Gomti Express and Nauchandi Express take four hours and ten minutes. Passengers traveling by Vande Bharat Express will not get the benefit of the comfort of this semi-high speed train, but will save more than an hour in travel time.
We have got approval for Vande Bharat train between Gorakhpur and Prayagraj. In the coming days, the train will start running on Prayagraj route.
NCR Chief Public Relations Officer HS Upadhyay
Vande Bharat may face challenge due to high fares
However, Vande Bharat Express may face challenges due to higher fares compared to Prayagraj-Lucknow Intercity. The intercity departs from Prayagraj at 3.20 pm and reaches Lucknow at 7.30 pm. Its fare is much lower than Vande Bharat Express. It will depart from Prayagraj Junction just five minutes before Vande Bharat Express.