Punjab rail connectivity boost: Centre announces Ferozepur-Delhi Vande Bharat train service, to revive Rajpura-Mohali rail project

The new Vande Bharat train will depart from Ferozepur at 7.55 am, halting at Faridkot, Bathinda, Dhuri, Patiala, Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Panipat before arriving at Old Delhi at 2.35 pm.

The return journey will begin from Old Delhi at 4 pm, returning to Ferozepur at 10.35 pm. The train will cover the 486-km distance in 6 hours 40 minutes on the onward journey and 6 hours 35 minutes on the return.

The service will operate six days a week, except Wednesdays. However, the exact date of commencement of this train is yet to be announced.

Hailing the announcements, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said, “Indian Railways has given two big gifts to Punjab today. The new rail line from Rajpura to Mohali, which was a decades-old demand, has been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With this, rail connectivity from the entire Malwa region to Chandigarh will become even better. Secondly, a new Vande Bharat train from Ferozepur to Delhi has been announced. I especially thank Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu for this”.

The revival of the 18-km Mohali-Rajpura rail link project was first announced on May 20, 2025, and has now been formally approved, Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu confirmed on Tuesday. Railway authorities revealed that the Punjab Government will acquire the 54 acres of land required for the project and hand it over to them.

According to officials, the 24-km railway line via Banur will directly connect Mohali with Rajpura, easing travel towards Delhi and beyond. In addition, a 5-km stretch from Rajpura has been cleared to remove the need for engine reversal on the Chandigarh route, reducing travel time and operational hurdles.

The project has been included in Northern Railway’s 2025-26 Pink Book under the ‘New Lines’ category (Item No. 458). With funds in place, land acquisition and construction work are expected to begin soon. The Railways has also been directed to invite expressions of interest for allied works, sources said.

The Rajpura-Mohali rail link, a long-pending demand by commuters for over five decades, is considered vital as Mohali already has a strong industrial hub, while Rajpura is emerging as another industrial centre. Officials said the link will benefit not only the public but also employees and freight transport.

Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, BJP national executive committee member and a Ferozepur-based former Punjab minister, added, “The train service will provide a new boost to trade, industry, education, and tourism. This long-pending demand for a new train from Ferozepur to the New Delhi region has finally been fulfilled.”