TRACKS TO TOMORROW: ER’S MASSIVE PUSH FOR SPEED AND COMFORT
KOLKATA, 15 FEBRUARY, 2026
In a sweeping overhaul of its transport network, Eastern Railway (ER) has ushered in a new era of passenger convenience over the last quarter, marked by the debut of high-speed Amrit Bharat services and the long-awaited Vande Bharat Sleeper. These initiatives, aimed at redefining the travel landscape of West Bengal and its neighbouring states, represent a multi-pronged strategy to enhance speed, comfort, and last-mile connectivity.
The centrepiece of this expansion includes the introduction of two pairs of new Mail/Express services under the Amrit Bharat banner. The weekly 13065/13066 Howrah – Anand Vihar (T) Amrit Bharat Express and the tri-weekly 22588/22587 Banaras – Sealdah Amrit Bharat Express have been launched to provide high-speed, cost-effective transit for long-distance commuters. Adding to the prestige of the zone’s fleet, the 27576/27575 Kamakhya – Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper has also been introduced, promising a premium overnight travel experience between Kolkata and the Northeast.In a significant move for industrial belt commuters, the authorities successfully introduced the 63592/63591 MEMU service between Asansol and Bokaro Steel City on 8 February 2026, This train is part of a larger suburban boost. Apart from this 13 new EMU services, a frequency increase for 20 existing EMU trains, and services of 21 EMU trains have been extended ensuring a robust lifeline for the city’s outskirts.
Addressing the persistent demand for better accessibility, Eastern Railway has provided 40 new stoppages for various Mail, Express, and Passenger trains across its Jurisdiction . To combat the perennial issue of overcrowding, the zone has aggressively augmented its capacity by temporarily adding 571 coaches to different trains and permanently augmented four coaches to two trains. The efficiency of the zone was further highlighted by the operation of 1,326 Trains on Demand (TOD) Specials over the last three months, representing a nearly 6 per cent increase compared to the previous year’s performance.
Safety and passenger comfort have also received a technological upgrade through the conversion of four major trains from conventional ICF to sophisticated LHB coaches. The beneficiaries of this upgrade include the 13173/13174 Sealdah – Sabroom Kanchanjungha Express, the 13175/13176 Sealdah – Silchar Kanchanjungha Express, the 12333/12334 Howrah – Prayagraj Rambagh Vibhuti Express, and the 13161/13162 Kolkata – Balurghat Express. Complementing these on-track improvements, station-side amenities have seen a boost with the installation of four new escalators at New Farakka station under the Malda division, ensuring a seamless experience for elderly and infirm passengers.
