India’s rail network continues to improve and expand each day, and now, to enhance its connectivity even further, the country’s longest Vande Bharat train has been introduced in Maharashtra. That’s right! This impressive train covers a staggering distance of 881 kilometers, making it the longest route in India. It exceeds the previous record held by the New Delhi–Varanasi route, which spans 755 kilometers. Read on to know more about this.
On August 10, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the longest Vande Bharat train, which also marks Maharashtra’s 12th Vande Bharat Express service. This train operates between Nagpur (Ajni) and Pune; it has ten scheduled stops along its route while maintaining an impressive average speed of 73 km/h, making it the fastest option for travel between these two cities. The scheduled stops on this route include Wardha, Badnera, Akola, Shegaon, Bhusaval, Jalgaon, Manmad, Kopargaon, Ahmednagar, and Daund Chord Line.
For the first time, regions between Wardha and Manmad will be linked by a Vande Bharat train service. The Vande Bharat Express will run between Nagpur (Ajni) and Pune and have eight coaches: one Executive Chair Car (EC) and seven Chair Car (CC) coaches.
Special moments of Hon PM Narendra Modi Ji from the flagging off ceremony of three Vande Bharat Express trains across India, including Maharashtra’s Nagpur–Pune Vande Bharat Express, India’s longest running Vande Bharat train, marking a new chapter in faster and modern rail… pic.twitter.com/5HCGq0V8KD
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 10, 2025
The total seating capacity is 590, with 44 seats in the EC and 546 in the CC coaches, as reported by the Indian Express. On August 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated two additional routes: the KSR Bengaluru-Belagavi Vande Bharat Express and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Amritsar Vande Bharat Express.
Key Things To Know About India’s Longest Vande Bharat Train
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to X to share an update stating, “Special moments from the flagging off ceremony of three Vande Bharat Express trains across India, including the Nagpur-Pune Vande Bharat Express in Maharashtra, which is the country’s longest-running Vande Bharat train. This marks a new chapter in enhancing faster and modern rail connectivity for the region.”
The Nagpur (Ajni) to Pune Vande Bharat Express trains are now operational. Train No. 26101 will run from Pune to Ajni six days a week, excluding Tuesdays, departing at 6:25 am and arriving at 6:25 pm the same day. Train No. 26102, running from Ajni to Pune, will commence on August 12, 2025, and will also operate six days a week, except Mondays, leaving Ajni at 9:50 am and arriving in Pune at 9:50 pm the same day.
