Gujarat is gearing up to welcome its third Vande Bharat Express train, which will also be the second to serve the city of Surat. The Western Railway recently announced its plans to operate this high-speed train between Udhna and Indore. Although the official start date has yet to be disclosed, the approximate timetable for the train has been released.

The Vande Bharat Express will leave Indore at 5:50 a.m. and is scheduled to reach Udhna at 1:20 p.m. The return trip from Udhna will commence at 1:55 p.m., with the train arriving back in Indore at 9:30 p.m. The new service will operate six days a week, excluding Tuesdays, and will make stops at Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Ratlam, and Ujjain. The train will cover the 570-km distance in approximately 7.5 hours, maintaining an average speed of 76 km/h.

Boost for Devotees of Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
This new train service is particularly good news for devotees visiting the Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 self-proclaimed Jyotirlingas in India. Located in Ujjain, the Mahakaleshwar Temple draws crowds throughout the year, with especially high footfall during the months of Mahashivratri and Shravan. The Vande Bharat Express is expected to facilitate easier pilgrimages, especially for those traveling from South Gujarat.

Public Reaction
While this news has mostly been welcomed, there is also ongoing discussion among aware citizens about the train's speed. Although many trains are experiencing increased speeds, the Vande Bharat Express to Surat is set to operate at an average speed of just 74-75 km/h. Critics argue that this is indicative of how Surat may be getting shortchanged, particularly when it comes to the fare, which is said to be charged at intercity speeds.

The new Vande Bharat Express will join two existing services in Gujarat—one running between Mumbai and Gandhinagar Capital via Surat and Vadodara, and another operating between Sabarmati and Jodhpur. With this addition, the state is further cementing its status as a significant hub in the Western Railway network.