Following the announcement of the Union Budget of 2026-2027, the Indian Railways (IR) is poised to undergo a massive expansion. The Delhi-Varanasi bullet train will cut travel time to less than four hours. Additionally, travel time between Delhi and Lucknow will be slashed to just two hours. Prior to this train, the fastest train route between the two cities was the Vande Bharat route, which took six hours. The new bullet train, once launched, will be the fastest on the route.
Delhi-Varanasi Bullet Train To Cut Travel Time
The Delhi-Varanasi Bullet train project will revolutionise inter-city travel in India, not just for railways, but also for short-haul flights. As of now, it takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes to travel between Delhi and Varanasi via flights.
Also Read: India’s First Bullet Train To Roll Out On August 15, 2027
Although it is still faster than the bullet train, the fares are often quite high. The fastest way to travel between the two cities is via the Vande Bharat Express, but that takes around six hours. Once the bullet train starts, the travel time will be reduced to just 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Also Read: India’s First Bullet Train To Begin 100-KM Run Between Surat & Vapi In 2027
Competing With Short-Haul Flights
If reports are to go by, the government has earmarked an outlay of INR 16 lakh crore to develop approximately 4,000 km of railway networks.
Also Read: Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Surat-Bilimora Section To Begin In 2027, Thane By 2028 & BKC By 2029
In the recent CII Annual Business Summit 2026, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the new networks that the IR will get as a result of the budget will position rail travel as a direct competitor against air travel.
He consequently asked investors to be wary since, as per Vaishnaw, IR will command 99% of the market share, especially on high-density corridors.
Also Read: Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Expected To Be Completed By 2028
FAQs
When Will The Delhi-Lucknow Bullet Train Start?
Operations are estimated to start around the early 2030s.
How Fast Will These Bullet Trains Go?
They are designed for speeds of up to 320 to 350 kilometers per hour.
Will Bullet Trains Be Cheaper Than Flying?
It seems so as of now, but the fares will certainly be more expensive than standard trains.
