Railways Bridge Garhwal-Kumaon Divide with First Direct Ramnagar-Dehradun Express

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By TRH News Desk

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates first direct Express train linking Kumaon and Garhwal; CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says the service will strengthen economic growth and pilgrimage travel.

New Delhi, July 18, 2026 — Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday virtually flagged off the inaugural service of the Ramnagar-Dehradun Express, the first-ever direct Express train connecting Ramnagar in the Kumaon region with Dehradun in Garhwal. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami joined the launch via video conferencing.

The new train fulfills a long-standing demand of residents and is expected to significantly improve rail connectivity between the two regions while providing faster and more convenient travel for passengers.

The Ramnagar-Dehradun Express will operate every Wednesday and Friday. Train No. 15310 will depart Ramnagar at 5:50 am and reach Dehradun at 12:40 pm. The return service, Train No. 15309, will leave Dehradun at 3:55 pm and arrive in Ramnagar at 11:30 pm. En route, the train will halt at Kashipur, Roshanpur, Pipalsana, Moradabad, Najibabad and Haridwar.

The train will include AC Second Class, AC Third Class, AC Chair Car, Sleeper Class, Second Sitting and General Second Class coaches, catering to passengers across different income groups.

According to the Ministry of Railways, the service will benefit residents of Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Dehradun districts in Uttarakhand, along with Moradabad and Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. The schedule is designed to enable passengers to complete official, educational, business and personal work in a single day.

The railway ministry said the train is also expected to boost tourism by improving access to Jim Corbett National Park, the Girija Devi Temple, Sitamadhi-Sitavani and onward connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit through Haridwar and Dehradun.

Speaking on the occasion, Vaishnaw said the train would strengthen connectivity between Kumaon and Garhwal. He also announced that Rishikesh railway station would be developed as a feeder station to reduce congestion at Haridwar. A master plan is being prepared to enhance passenger capacity and improve connectivity.

The minister said redevelopment work is progressing at 11 railway stations across Uttarakhand, including Dehradun, Haridwar Junction, Kathgodam, Ramnagar and Tanakpur.

Chief Minister Dhami said the new service marked another milestone in strengthening Uttarakhand’s railway network. He added that the state has received a record railway budget allocation of ₹4,769 crore, while projects worth over ₹40,000 crore, including the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line, are under implementation. BJP MP Anil Baluni said the train would provide fresh momentum to tourism, business, education and employment while creating new opportunities for local youth.