Travelling from Pune is about to become quicker and much more comfortable. Indian Railways has announced the launch of four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Pune, connecting the city to Shegaon, Vadodara, Secunderabad, and Belagavi.
With these new additions, the number of Vande Bharat trains starting from Pune will go up from two to six, marking a big improvement in intercity travel from the city.
What are the new routes?
1. Pune–Shegaon Vande Bharat Train: This route will stop at Daund, Ahmednagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Jalna. It’s expected to help pilgrims and tourists, especially those heading to Shegaon’s famous Gajanan Maharaj Temple.
2. Pune–Vadodara Vande Bharat Train: The train is likely to stop at Lonavala, Panvel, Vapi, and Surat. It could cut travel time from around 9 hours to just 6–7 hours, helping both business and leisure travellers between Maharashtra and Gujarat.
3. Pune–Secunderabad Vande Bharat Train: Connecting two IT and education hubs, this train will likely stop at Daund, Solapur, and Kalaburagi (Gulbarga). You could save 2–3 hours compared to current trains on this route.
4. Pune–Belagavi Vande Bharat Train: Expected stops include Satara, Sangli, and Miraj. This route will strengthen links between Pune and Belagavi, which is fast becoming an important city in Karnataka.
Fare and onboard facilities
Ticket prices are expected to be between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000, depending on distance and class. Like other Vande Bharat trains, these will include:
- Ergonomic seats
- Automatic doors
- Wi-Fi
- Modern restrooms
- Safety features
Sleeper Vande Bharat to Nagpur also planned
There’s also talk of a Pune–Nagpur Vande Bharat Sleeper train, which will allow for overnight travel, a first for the Vande Bharat series that normally runs during the day.
Railway officials say these new trains aim to make travel easier and promote regional growth and tourism. Cities like Shegaon, Vadodara, and Secunderabad are expected to see more visitors, while routes like Pune–Surat and Pune–Belagavi will help frequent business travellers.
Though the exact timetable hasn’t been released yet, this announcement is great news for anyone travelling in and out of Pune.
