Meerut–Varanasi Vande Bharat Express to start from August 2025: Things travellers should know
Here are five things travellers need to know about this new train:
First direct train between Meerut and Varanasi
: Passengers will be able to travel directly between Meerut and Varanasi for the first time in history without needing to change routes. As of now, travellers had to detour via Prayagraj or rely on buses, which added time and inconvenience.
Train Schedule and journey time
: The trip covers 782.22 km in under 12 hours.
Designated as train number 22490 (Meerut to Varanasi) and 22489 (return), the train has a detailed schedule with major stops along the way. Train 22490 will depart from:
Meerut City at 6:35 AM
Moradabad at 8:40 AM
Bareilly at 10:11 AM
Lucknow at 1:55 PM
Ayodhya Dham at 3:55 PM
Varanasi Cantt by 6:25 PM
The return journey, train 22489, leaves:
Varanasi Cantt at 9:10 AM
Ayodhya Dham by 11:40 AM
Lucknow by 1:30 PM
Bareilly at 5:15 PM
Moradabad at 6:50 PM
Meerut City by 9:05 PM
Perfect for students, entrepreneurs, travellers
: This train is expected to benefit various passenger groups including students, entrepreneurs, and sports professionals who frequently shuttle between these regions.
It enhances convenience and saves significant travel time and effort, encouraging more frequent travel for tourism as well.
Growing network of Vande Bharat trains
: This addition makes the seventh Vande Bharat train operating from Varanasi. Five of these depart from Varanasi Cantt, one from Banaras station (towards Agra), and others connect to cities like Ranchi, Deoghar, Patna, and New Delhi. The rapid expansion of Vande Bharat services is part of
Indian Railways
' push to modernize rail travel and connect key economic and cultural hubs with semi-high-speed trains.
By linking Meerut, Lucknow, Ayodhya, and Varanasi on a single route, this train significantly improves intra-state connectivity across Uttar Pradesh.
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