Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off First Direct Ramnagar–Dehradun Express, Boosting Uttarakhand Rail Connectivity

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday virtually flagged off the inaugural Ramnagar–Dehradun Express, marking the launch of the first-ever direct Express train connecting Ramnagar in the Kumaon region with Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. The new service is expected to significantly improve connectivity between the state’s Kumaon and Garhwal regions while providing a major boost to tourism, pilgrimage, education and business travel.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also joined the inauguration through video conferencing and described the new train as another milestone in strengthening the state’s railway network.

The Ramnagar–Dehradun Express fulfills a long-pending demand of residents and will operate twice a week, every Wednesday and Friday. Train No. 15310 will depart Ramnagar at 5:50 am and reach Dehradun at 12:40 pm, enabling passengers to travel to the state capital and complete official, educational, medical or personal work on the same day. On the return journey, Train No. 15309 will leave Dehradun at 3:55 pm and arrive at Ramnagar at 11:30 pm.

The train will stop at Kashipur, Roshanpur, Pipalsana, Moradabad, Najibabad and Haridwar, connecting several important towns across Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. It has been designed to cater to passengers from different income groups and will consist of AC Second Class, AC Third Class, AC Chair Car, Sleeper Class, Second Sitting and General Second Class coaches.

Speaking during the inauguration, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the launch of the first direct Express train between Ramnagar and Dehradun represents a significant step in strengthening rail connectivity within Uttarakhand. He noted that the new service would make travel between the Kumaon and Garhwal regions faster, more comfortable and more convenient for thousands of passengers.

The Minister also announced that Rishikesh railway station will be developed as a feeder station to reduce congestion at Haridwar. He said Indian Railways is preparing a comprehensive master plan to enhance railway capacity around Haridwar and Rishikesh, ensuring smoother movement of passengers, particularly during peak pilgrimage seasons.

Vaishnaw said railway infrastructure development in Uttarakhand is progressing at a rapid pace under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. He informed that 11 railway stations across the state are currently being redeveloped. These include Dehradun, Haridwar Junction, Harrawala, Kashipur Junction, Kichha, Kotdwar, Roorkee, Kathgodam, Lal Kuan Junction, Ramnagar and Tanakpur.

Highlighting the government’s passenger-centric approach, the Railway Minister said redevelopment of Haridwar and Dehradun railway stations is being planned with a special focus on improving facilities for poor and middle-class passengers while ensuring that station modernization does not lead to increased congestion. The upgraded stations will offer enhanced passenger amenities, better circulation areas and improved operational efficiency.

Referring to recent railway initiatives in the state, Vaishnaw said the newly introduced Tanakpur–Nanded Express has received an encouraging response from passengers. He also noted that Vande Bharat Express services operating in Uttarakhand are witnessing good patronage.

The new Ramnagar–Dehradun Express is expected to benefit residents of Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Dehradun districts in Uttarakhand, along with passengers from Moradabad and Bijnor districts of Uttar Pradesh. Students, traders, farmers, government employees and business travellers are likely to gain from the improved connectivity, particularly through the convenient same-day travel option.

The train is also expected to provide a major boost to tourism and religious travel in the region. It will offer improved rail access to Jim Corbett National Park, one of India’s most visited wildlife destinations, as well as the famous Girija Devi Temple, located atop a large rock in the Kosi River near Ramnagar. Pilgrims visiting the ancient Sitamadhi (Sitavani) religious site will also benefit from the enhanced connectivity.

In addition, passengers travelling on the new Express will have easier access to the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, including Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, through onward road connectivity from Haridwar and Dehradun.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated the people of Uttarakhand on the launch of the new train service and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for strengthening railway infrastructure in the hill state.

Dhami said rail connectivity in Uttarakhand has improved significantly in recent years with the introduction of several new train services. He highlighted that construction of the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail line is progressing rapidly and will transform connectivity in the Himalayan state.

Describing the ambitious railway project as a “lifeline” for Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister said it would play a crucial role in accelerating the state’s social, economic, religious and tourism development while providing better connectivity to remote mountainous regions.

He further stated that Uttarakhand has received a record railway budget allocation of ₹4,769 crore, while railway projects worth more than ₹40,000 crore are currently under implementation across the state. He added that several railway infrastructure projects and new train services are also being planned for Haridwar in view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela, aimed at handling the expected surge in pilgrim traffic.

Members of Parliament Trivendra Singh Rawat and Anil Baluni, along with senior railway officials, were also present during the virtual inauguration ceremony. The launch of the Ramnagar–Dehradun Express marks another important step in Indian Railways’ efforts to strengthen connectivity, promote tourism and support the economic development of Uttarakhand.