Maharashtra got its 12th Vande Bharat Express on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off three new Vande Bharat Express trains, further expanding India’s fleet of semi-high-speed premium trains. The newly launched trains include the Ajni (Nagpur)–Pune Vande Bharat, KSR Bengaluru–Belagavi Vande Bharat, and Shree Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Amritsar Vande Bharat Express. The flag-off ceremony was conducted from KSR Bengaluru Railway Station.
Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, and other dignitaries attended the function at Nagpur and were connected to the Bengaluru event through video conferencing. However, the function was held at Nagpur station on Sunday, but the regular service will operate from Ajni.
“In a significant push to improve regional connectivity and boost economic and tourism prospects, these additions are set to benefit thousands of daily commuters, business travelers, students, and tourists,” said an official.
The Ajni (Nagpur)–Pune Vande Bharat Express stands out as the longest-running Vande Bharat route in the country, covering a distance of 881 kilometers. It is also the 12th Vande Bharat train operating in Maharashtra.
This new route is particularly significant for its connectivity through the previously unserved Wardha–Manmad corridor, making it the first Vande Bharat service on this stretch. The train will serve 10 intermediate stops, including Wardha, Badnera, Akola, Shegaon, Bhusaval, Jalgaon, Manmad, Kopargaon, Ahmednagar, and Daund Chord Line.
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It will operate six days a week (excluding Mondays from Ajni and Tuesdays from Pune), and is also the fastest train between Nagpur and Pune, maintaining an average speed of 73 km/h.
Regular services of Train No. 26102 (Ajni–Pune) will depart at 9:50 AM and arrive in Pune at 9:50 PM, starting August 12, 2025. Similarly, Train No. 26101 (Pune–Ajni) will leave Pune at 6:25 AM and reach Ajni at 6:25 PM, commencing August 11, 2025.
The train will consist of 8 coaches, including 1 Executive Chair Car (52 seats) and 7 Chair Cars (5 coaches with 78 seats each and 2 with 44 seats each), offering a total seating capacity of 530 passengers.
According to Central Railway, both Nagpur and Pune are thriving metropolitan centers with a concentration of industries, educational institutions, healthcare hubs, and historical and tourist attractions. The introduction of this train is expected to provide a major boost to trade, commerce, and tourism, besides offering affordable, fast, and comfortable travel for professionals, students, and leisure travelers.
Bookings for the Pune–Ajni–Pune Vande Bharat Express are now open at all computerized reservation counters and on the IRCTC website (www.irctc.co.in).
