અમદાવાદ, ૨૧ ઓક્ટોબર, ૨૦૨૬: રેલવે બોર્ડે વારાણસી અને અમદાવાદના સાબરમતી સ્ટેશન વચ્ચે નવી દૈનિક ટ્રેન 12206/12205 વારાણસી–સાબરમતી એક્સપ્રેસ શરૂ કરવાની મંજૂરી આપી છે. 12205 દરરોજ સવારે 05:20 વાગ્યે સાબરમતીથી ઉપડશે અને મહેસાણા, પાલનપુર, આબુ રોડ, અજમેર, જયપુર, આગ્રા થઈને બીજા દિવસે સવારે 06:30 વાગ્યે વારાણસી પહોંચશે. વળતી ટ્રેન 12206 સાંજે 17:30 વાગ્યે વારાણસીથી ઉપડી બીજા દિવસે રાત્રે 20:15 વાગ્યે સાબરમતી આવશે. ટ્રેન કઈ તારીખથી દોડશે તે હજુ જાહેર થયું નથી.
The Railway Board has approved a new daily express between Varanasi and Sabarmati (Ahmedabad), numbered 12206/12205, in a letter issued on October 21, 2026 to the general managers of Northern, North Central, North Western, West Central and Western Railway. The train runs through Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan via Prayagraj, Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer, and gives north Gujarat a direct daily link to Varanasi.
At a glance
- 12205 Sabarmati–Varanasi Express: leaves Sabarmati daily at 05:20 and reaches Varanasi at 06:30 the next morning, a journey of about 25 h 10 min.
- 12206 Varanasi–Sabarmati Express: leaves Varanasi daily at 17:30 and reaches Sabarmati at 20:15 the next evening, about 26 h 45 min.
- Start date: not announced yet. The Board has asked the zones to start it "from an early convenient date" and says the first run may be an inaugural special.
- Stops in Gujarat: Palanpur, Mehsana and Sabarmati.
- Coaches: LHB coaches, with 3 rakes in the pool. The train's primary maintenance is at Varanasi.
- Booking and fares: not announced yet.
What it means for Ahmedabad and north Gujarat
A daily train is a useful addition for pilgrims and for families from Uttar Pradesh who live and work in Gujarat. Because it starts from Sabarmati, passengers from north and west Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Chandkheda can board without going to Kalupur. The early-morning departure also makes it a daytime train to Abu Road, Ajmer and Jaipur, which reaches Jaipur in the afternoon.
Route and stops
Besides the two terminals, the letter lists 20 commercial stoppages: Mirzapur, Subedarganj (Prayagraj), Govindpuri (Kanpur), Tundla Jn, Idgah Agra Jn, Bharatpur, Nadbai, Kherli, Mandawar Mahwa Road, Bandikui, Gandhinagar Jaipur, Jaipur, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Beawar, Marwar, Falna, Abu Road, Palanpur and Mehsana.
Prayagraj Junction and Kanpur Central are not on the stop list; the train halts at Subedarganj and Govindpuri instead, on the edge of those cities.
Timetable published so far
The Board's letter gives timings for only a few stations. Read 12206 from top to bottom and 12205 from bottom to top. Timings at the other stops will come with the zonal timetable notification.
| 12206 (Arr./Dep.) | Station | 12205 (Arr./Dep.) |
|---|---|---|
| Dep. 17:30 (day 1) | Varanasi | Arr. 06:30 (day 2) |
| 08:23 / 08:25 (day 2) | Bandikui | 16:38 / 16:40 (day 1) |
| 17:50 / 17:52 (day 2) | Palanpur | 07:18 / 07:20 (day 1) |
| Arr. 20:15 (day 2) | Sabarmati (Ahmedabad) | Dep. 05:20 (day 1) |
Operating details
Varanasi will handle primary maintenance of the rakes (with RBPC, as the letter puts it). Coaches will be watered at Govindpuri, Tundla, Jaipur and Ajmer, and Jaipur is the train's Clean Train Station (CTS) point. The letter does not give the coach composition, fares or a booking date. Those usually follow in a notification from the owning zone once a start date is fixed, and we will update this story when they are out.
Source
- Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), Directorate of Coaching: letter No. 2025/CHG/16/NR/40-Part(16), CC-178/2026, "12206/12205 Varanasi–Sabarmati Express", issued October 21, 2026, signed by the Director (Coaching). Copy of the letter as circulated on social media (@GangapurCityJn).