Indian Railways Revises Train Timings From January 1, 2026; 62 Express Trains to Run Faster, 3% Discount for Digital Unreserved Tickets
Large-Scale Rail Block Disrupts Pune–Nagpur and Vidarbha Connectivity This Month
As the new year begins, Indian Railways is rolling out major updates to its train schedules to improve punctuality and passenger convenience. Effective 1 January 2026, the timings of several local, Mail, and Express trains will change, while the speed of 62 Express trains will be increased. Additionally, passengers booking unreserved tickets digitally through the RailOne app will now enjoy a 3% discount.
Changes in Local Trains on Dahanu Road Section
Western Railway has announced that certain local trains operating to and from the Dahanu Road section will run on revised schedules. For passenger convenience:
- Annexure-1 lists affected trains in the UP direction
- Annexure-2 lists trains in the DOWN direction
- Annexure-3 includes Mail/Express trains whose timings have been preponed
Revised Timings of Major Express and Vande Bharat Trains
Several prominent trains will see adjusted departure and arrival times. Some departures are now earlier than before, while some arrivals have been slightly delayed. Key changes include:
- Train No. 22830 Shalimar–Bhuj Superfast Express – Departs Shalimar at 12:50 AM (previously 7:55 PM)
- Train No. 20972 Shalimar–Udaipur Express – Departs Shalimar at 12:50 AM (previously 7:55 PM)
- Train No. 12906 Howrah–Porbandar Okha Express – Departs Howrah at 8:15 PM (previously 8:20 PM)
- Train No. 22906 Shalimar–Okha Superfast Express – Departs Shalimar at 8:15 PM (previously 8:20 PM)
- Train No. 12813 Howrah–Tatanagar Steel Express – Departs Howrah at 5:10 PM (previously 5:20 PM)
- Train No. 18185 Tatanagar–Godda Express – Departs Tatanagar at 1:55 PM (previously 2:00 PM)
- Train No. 12152 Howrah–Mumbai LTT Samarsata Express – Departs Howrah at 7:25 PM (previously 12:35 AM)
- Train No. 12102 Howrah–Mumbai LTT Gyaneshwari Express – Departs Howrah at 8:15 PM (previously 8:20 PM)
- Train No. 12262 Howrah–Mumbai CSMT Duronto Express – Departs Howrah at 5:35 AM (previously 5:45 AM)
- Train No. 12129 Pune–Howrah Azad Hind Express – Arrives at Howrah at 5:25 AM (previously 5:10 AM)
- Train No. 20894 Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express – Arrives at Tatanagar at 9:40 AM (previously 9:30 AM)
- Train No. 20891 Tatanagar–Brahmapur Vande Bharat Express – Departs Tatanagar at 2:20 PM (previously 2:30 PM)
- Train No. 20892 Brahmapur–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express – Arrives at Tatanagar at 2:50 PM (previously 2:40 PM)
- Trains operating to and from Howrah, Shalimar, Tatanagar, and Rourkela will experience timing changes ranging from 5–15 minutes up to 30 minutes, depending on the route.
Why These Changes Were Made
- Reduce congestion at crossings
- Allow multiple trains to run smoothly on busy sections
- Minimize delays and waiting time for passengers
- With trains running on the same section simultaneously, even small delays can snowball. The revised schedule ensures better operational efficiency and passenger comfort.
How to Check Updated Timings
Passengers are encouraged to verify the revised schedules before traveling. Updated information can be accessed through:
- NTES (National Train Enquiry System)
- IRCTC website
- Railway helpline numbers
- Nearest railway station
- 3% Discount on Digital Unreserved Tickets
In a separate passenger-friendly initiative, the Railway Ministry has introduced a 3% discount on unreserved tickets booked via the RailOne app. Key points:
- Applicable from 14 January to 14 July 2026
- Valid for all digital payment modes (UPI, debit card, net banking, etc.)
- Only available on the RailOne app, not on other ticket platforms
- Existing 3% R-Wallet cashback continues as before
- Scheme will be reviewed in May 2026
