Indian Railways launches two Amrit Bharat Express and two new Express passenger trains, plus two more trains and Amrit Bharat Stations inaugurated. Here's the details
Two New Amrit Bharat Express trains and two passenger trains were launched today by the Indian Railways. Here are the details of these new trains.
From Tiruchirappalli, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has flagged off four new train services today on 11 March 2026, of which, two are Amrit Bharat Express trains : the Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express, the Nagercoil-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express.
The two new passenger trains that were also launched today are : Rameswaram-Mangaluru Express and Tirunelveli-Mangaluru Express trains.
The Palakkad – Pollachi MEMU train and the Mayiladuthurai - Thiruvarur - Karaikkudi train service are the two other passenger train services that were inaugurated today.
So far, there were 54 Amrit Bharat Express trains in service across India, on the Indian Railways network. Since January 2024, the Amrit Bharat Express train services have grown steadily, reaching the sub-Himalayan north, the North-East, the Deccan, and the south. With the two new Amrit Bharat trains launching today, operating four train services, there are now a total of 58 Amrit Bharat Express train services in India.
In addition to that, three Amrit Bharat Stations were inaugurated along with Shoranur-Nilambur railway line electrification. Here's the details below, about the 2 new Amrit Bharat Express trains and other trains launched today on 11 March 2026.
Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express
The Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express goes from the loom-towns of the south to the coal-ringed plateaus of the east.
Podanur Junction, which is Coimbatore’s secondary railway node that is tucked into the city's southern edge, is the originating terminal of this new Amrit Bharat Express. Coimbatore Junction follows within minutes as the first commercial halt of this Amrit Bharat train that runs all the way to Dhanbad in Jharkhand, starting from Tamil Nadu and passing through places in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Train No. 16619/16620 Podanur - Dhanbad - Podanur Amrit Bharat Weekly Express will commence regular services from Podanur on 21 March 2026 and from Dhanbad on 23 March 2026. This weekly train service will start from Podanur on Saturdays and reach Dhanbad on Monday. It will start from Dhanbad on Mondays and reach Podanur on Wednesday.
The stations this train goes through are: Podanur, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Tiruttani, Renigunta, Nellore, Ongole, Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Duvvada, Simhachalam North, Kottavalasa, Vizianagaram, Bobbili, Parvatipuram, Rayagada, Muniguda, Kesinga, Titlagarh, Balangir, Bargarh Road, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Hatia, Ranchi, Muri, Bokaro Steel City, Chandrapura, Katrasgarh, and Dhanbad.
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Earlier, this journey meant boarding one train to Chennai or Vijayawada, waiting for hours, and boarding another, adding the better part of a day to what is already a long-distance route.
This Amrit Bharat Express train is a weekly service that departs Podanur every Saturday morning and arrives at Dhanbad by Monday early morning, with the return service running every Monday from Dhanbad.
This new weekly Amrit Bharat train goes through Salem, Renigunta, Vijayawada, Jharsuguda, and Ranchi along the way, and touches every major node of the corridor.
Nagercoil-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express
This train connects Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu, near Kanyakumari - the southern-most tip of India where the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal meet, to Charlapalli, which is one of the major railway stations in Hyderabad city of Telengana.
The Nagercoil-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express is this region's first direct Amrit Bharat link to Telangana, threading through over twenty districts across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Train No. 16357/16358 Nagercoil Junction - Charlapalli - Nagercoil Junction Amrit Bharat Weekly Express will commence regular services from Nagercoil Junction on 12 March 2026 and from Charlapalli on 14 March 2026. This weekly train service will start from Nagercoil Junction on Thursdays and reach Charlapalli on Saturday. It will start from Charlapalli on Saturdays and reach Nagercoil Junction on the next day on Sunday.
The stations this train goes through are: Nagercoil, Valliyur, Tirunelveli, Kovilpatti, Sattur, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Thiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Papanasam, Kumbhakkonam, Mayiladuthurai, Sirkhazi, Chidambaram, Tiruppadiripuliyur, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Tambaram, Chennai Egmore, Sullurupeta, Nayudupeta, Nellore, Ongole, Chirala, Bapatla, Tenali Junction, Guntur Junction, Sattenapalle, Miryalaguda, Nalgoda, and Charlapalli.
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Rameswaram-Mangaluru Express and the Tirunelveli-Mangaluru Express trains
The Rameswaram-Mangaluru Central Express and the Tirunelveli-Mangaluru Junction Express both run through the Coimbatore corridor en route to Mangalore in Coastal Karnataka. Both these trains go through Madurai, which is a major pilgrimage site with splendid world famous and ancient temples, in Tamil Nadu.
For pilgrims travelling to Rameswaram, which is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage destinations, the new Rameswaram-Mangaluru express train gives a direct means to travel to Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple, from important railway stations along the route that goes from Mangaluru Central in coastal Karnataka, through Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Train No. 16622/16621 Rameswaram - Mangaluru Central Weekly Express will begin regular operations from Mangaluru Central on 14 March 2026, and from Rameswaram on 15 March 2026. This is a weekly train service that will start from Mangaluru Central on Saturdays and reach Rameswaram on the next day on Sunday. It will start from Rameswaram on Sundays amd reach Mangaluru Central the next day on Monday.
The stations that Rameswaram-Mangaluru Express train goes through are: Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram, Paramakudi, Manamadurai, Madurai, Dindigul, Oddanchatram, Palani, Udumalaipettai, Pollachi, Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod, Mangaluru Central.
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Thirunelveli city also is rich with ancient and medieval history and heritage, for example the splendid Nellaiappar temple that was the royal shrine of the later Pandyas.
Train No. 16708/16707 Tirunelveli – Mangaluru Jn – Tirunelveli Weekly Express will commence regular services from Thirunelveli on 18 March 2026 and from Mangaluru Junction on 19 March 2026. This week express train will start from Thirunelveli on Wednesdays and reach Mangaluru Junction on the next day on Thursday. It will start from Mangaluru Junction on Thursdays and reach Thirunelveli on the next day on Friday.
The stations that Tirunelveli-Mangaluru Jn Express train goes through are: Tirunelveli, Kovilpatti, Sattur, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Oddanchatram, Palani, Udumalaipettai, Pollachi, Kollengode, Palakkad Town, Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Vadakara, Thalassery, Kannur, Kanhangad, Kasaragod, Mangaluru Junction.
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Other new train services launched
The two other passenger train services that were inaugurated today are the Palakkad – Pollachi MEMU train and the Mayiladuthurai - Thiruvarur - Karaikkudi train service.
The new Palakkad – Pollachi MEMU train service runs between Palakkad Junction in Keralam to Pollachi Junction station in Tamil Nadu.
The regular run of Train No. 66623/66624 Palakkad – Pollachi – Palakkad (5 days a Week) MEMU Passenger will start from Palakkad on and from 12th March, 2026 (Except Monday & Tuesday) and from Pollachi on and from 13th March, 2026 (Except Tuesday & Wednesday).
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The Mayiladuthurai - Thiruvarur - Karaikkudi train runs between these two places in Tamil Nadu.
Train No. 56835/56836 Mayiladuthurai – Karaikkudi – Mayiladuthurai Daily Passenger will commence Ex. Mayiladuthurai with effect
from 16th March, 2026 and Ex. Karaikkudi with effect from 17th March, 2026.
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Three Amrit Bharat Railway Stations inaugurated
In addition to the new train services, three Amrit Bharat Railway Stations were inaugurated. Existing railway stations that are redeveloped and upgraded with better facilities and modern passenger amenities, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Such railway stations are called as "Amrit Bharat Stations" or just "Amrit Stations".
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is an ongoing Indian Railways mission that was launched in December 2022 by the Ministry of Railways to redevelop 1275 railway stations across India.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated three redeveloped Amrit Bharat Stations in Keralam — Shoranur Junction, Kuttippuram, and Changanassery, and dedicated the 65 km long Shoranur – Nilambur Railway Line Electrification Project to the Nation and also flagged off the Palakkad – Pollachi MEMU service today, on 11 March 2026.
So far, 1,337 stations have been identified for development under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. With 8 more Stations redeveloped in a month, as of now in 12 March 2025, there are now a total of 180 railway stations that have been redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Stations scheme, across India.
Angamali for Kaladi, Ferok, Nilambur Road and Tripunithura in Kerala; Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh; Mambalam in Tamil Nadu; Nidadavolu Junction in Andhra Pradesh; and Ramagundam in Telangana, are the latest redeveloped stations.
With modernised Station Buildings, Shelters, Foot Over Bridges, Waiting Areas, Toilets, Lifts, Escalators, Parking, Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) and other Passenger and Freight amenities, Amrit Bharat Stations aim to redefine the rail travel experience in India.
About Amrit Bharat Express Trains
Amrit Bharat Express trains are fully non-AC services with Sleeper coaches as well as General Class coaches. They're designed and manufactured to deliver a modern, comfortable, and high-quality travel experience at affordable fares, in the non-AC segment.
Introduced by Indian Railways, the Amrit Bharat train services are fully non-AC modern trains to provide affordable means of transportation to the low and middle income families. Presently, Amrit Bharat train consists of 11 General Class coaches, 8 Sleeper Class coaches, 01 Pantry car and 02 Luggage cum Divyangjan coaches.
The Amrit Bharat Non-AC sleeper travel is priced at around ₹500 per 1,000 kilometres, with no dynamic pricing, and proportionately lower pricing for short and medium-distance journeys, to ensure accessibility and affordability for the common passengers or budget rail travellers.
Amrit Bharat trains are very popular in India, with over 100% Sleeper Class occupancy since it began its services. New Amrit Bharat Express trains keep being launched, for example, 9 new Amrit Bharat trains were launched in January 18, and 3 more Amrit Bharat trains were launched in January 23, just a couple of months ago this year in 2026.
The Amrit Bharat Express trains, along with the Vande Bharat Express trains, Namo Bharat rapid rail services, and other trains with the modern LHB coaches, are the advanced modern train services of Indian Railways.
Note that the train timings and other information in this article are as on the date of publication of this article and they may be subject to change in the future. For updated information for booking tickets, you may visit the official website of IRCTC or the RailOne app by Indian Railways.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Flag Off Two Amrit Bharat Trains, Two Express Trains and a Passenger Train from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu - Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India, on PIB. Posted On: 10 MAR 2026 7:09PM by PIB Delhi.
- Common Man's Train: Amrit Bharat Express, Offering Faster, Safer & Jerk free Long Distance Travel, Records Over 100% Sleeper Class Occupancy Since Inception - Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India, on PIB. Posted On: 11 MAR 2026 6:57PM by PIB Delhi.
- AMRIT BHARAT STATIONS - Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India, on PIB. Posted On: 10 FEB 2023 4:58PM by PIB Delhi.
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme Making Rapid Progress Nationwide; 8 More Stations Redeveloped in a Month, Total Now 180 - Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India, on PIB. Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 4:40PM by PIB Delhi.