In a move set to benefit thousands of daily commuters and long-distance travelers, the Indian Railways has announced a significant revision to the schedules of numerous trains operating in and through Chhattisgarh. The new timetable, which comes into effect on January 1, 2026, is designed to enhance operational efficiency and reduce overall journey durations across the network.
Key Changes in the South East Central Railway Zone
The overhaul primarily impacts the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone, which covers most of Chhattisgarh. Railway officials confirmed that the new schedule will affect the operations of 55 express trains and eight passenger trains in both directions. This annual exercise incorporates marginal adjustments aimed at improving average speeds between stations, a benefit derived from ongoing infrastructure upgrades on various sections.
While the departure and arrival times at originating and terminating stations have been modified, the timings at intermediate stations en route will largely remain unchanged. Passengers are urged to verify the specific timings for their stations.
Major Trains with Revised Schedules
Several prominent long-distance trains connecting Chhattisgarh to major Indian metros will run under the new timings. The list includes:
- Lokmanya Tilak–Puri Express
- Pune–Howrah Azad Hind Express
- Bilaspur–New Delhi Express
- Visakhapatnam–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express
- Raipur–Jabalpur Express
- Yeshwantpur–Korba Express
- Korba–Amritsar Chhattisgarh Express
- Durg–Chhapra Express
- Pune–Bilaspur Express
- Nagpur–Bilaspur Express
These trains make crucial stops at key Chhattisgarh hubs like Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, Dongargarh, and Champa, where passengers will notice minor changes in arrival and departure times.
Significant Travel Time Savings for Passengers
The core objective of this timetable revision is to slash journey times. Authorities project that due to these optimizations, mail and express trains will save between 10 and 25 minutes on their end-to-end travel. Passenger trains are also set to benefit, with expected savings of 5 to 20 minutes.
Beyond the listed trains, the ripple effect of speed enhancements will benefit an additional 11 express and 17 passenger trains under the SECR zone. Cumulatively, these changes are expected to save approximately 340 minutes in total operational time, marking a substantial boost to network efficiency.
Impact on Local and MEMU Services
The changes are not limited to long-distance travel. Several regional passenger and MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) services will also operate on revised schedules. Affected services include the Ambikapur–Shahdol MEMU, the Gondia–Jabalpur Passenger, and the Nainpur–Chhindwara Passenger, among others. Travelers relying on these local connections should plan accordingly.
The railway administration has issued a clear advisory for all passengers traveling to or from Chhattisgarh: check the updated official timetable before planning any journey from January 1, 2026, to avoid any last-minute confusion or inconvenience. The revisions underscore Indian Railways' continuous effort to modernize operations and provide a faster, more reliable service to the public.
