Agra Cantonment–Banaras Vande Bharat Express

Agra Cantonment – Banaras Vande Bharat Express
This Mini Vande Bharat Express on standby at Banaras railway station
Overview
Service type	Vande Bharat Express
Locale	Uttar Pradesh
First service	September 16, 2024 (2024-09-16) (Inaugural) 23 September 2024;11 months ago (23 September 2024) (Commercial)
Current operator(s)	North Central Railways (NCR)
Route
Termini	Agra Cantonment (AGC) Banaras (BSBS)
Stops	04
Distance travelled	573 km (356 mi)
Average journey time	07 hrs
Service frequency	Six days a week [a]
Train number(s)	20176 / 20175
Line(s) used	Agra–Tundla line Delhi–Kanpur section (from Tundla Jn) Kanpur–DDU section (till Prayagraj Jn) Prayagraj–Varanasi line (via Gyanpur Road)
On-board services
Class(es)	AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car
Seating arrangements	Airline style Rotatable seats
Sleeping arrangements	No
Catering facilities	On board Catering
Observation facilities	Large windows in all coaches
Entertainment facilities	On-board WiFi Infotainment System Electric outlets Reading light Seat Pockets Bottle Holder Tray Table
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks
Other facilities	Kavach
Technical
Rolling stock	Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 (Last service: May 28 2025) Vande Bharat 2.0 (First service: May 29 2025)
Track gauge	Indian gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed	82 km/h (51 mph) (Avg.)
Average length	384 metres (1,260 ft) (16 coaches)
Track owner(s)	Indian Railways
Rake maintenance	(TBC)
Route map Legend 20176 ↓ Agra Cantonment Tundla Junction Etawah Junction Kanpur Central Prayagraj (Allahabad) Jn 20175 ↑ Banaras

The 20176/20175 Agra Cantonment - Banaras Vande Bharat Express is India's 64th Vande Bharat Express train, connecting the riverside city of Agra, located on the banks of the Yamuna River, with the Ganges city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. ^{[1] [2]}

This express train was inaugurated on September 16, 2024, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. ^{[3] [4]}

Overview

This train is currently operated by Indian Railways, connecting Agra Cantt., Tundla Jn, Etawah Jn, Kanpur Central, Prayagraj (Allahabad) Jn, and Banaras. ^[5] It operates with train numbers 20176/20175, running six days a week. ^[6]

Rakes

It was the 60th 2nd Generation and 43th Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 Express train, designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory at Perambur, Chennai under the Make in India Initiative. ^[7]

Coach Augmentation

As of 2025, this express train was augmented with 8 additional AC coaches and has been running with Vande Bharat 2.0 trainset W.E.F. 29 May 2025, in order to enhance passenger capacity on this popular route. ^[8]

Service

The 20176/20175 Agra Cantonment - Banaras Vande Bharat Express currently operates 6 days a week, covering a distance of 573 km (356 mi) in a travel time of 07 hrs with average speed of 82 km/h. The Maximum Permissible Speed (MPS) is 130 km/h (81 mph).

See also

• Vande Bharat Express
• Tejas Express
• Gatiman Express
• Agra Cantonment railway station
• Banaras railway station

Notes

1. Except Wednesdays

References

1. "Vande Bharat: आगरा कैंट से वाराणसी का सफर होगा आसान, 16 सितंबर को वंदे भारत एक्सप्रेस का शुभारंभ". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 13 September 2024.
2. "Varanasi-Agra Vande Bharat train timings, stops, price and timing - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
3. Staff Reporter (16 September 2024). "PM Modi Launches Vande Bharat Trains On 6 New Routes - Metro Rail News" . Retrieved 16 September 2024.
4. "Vande Bharat Train: इटावा को मिला वंदे भारत का स्टॉपेज, वाराणसी से चलेगी नई वंदेभारत यूपी में छह स्टेशनों पर ठहरेगी". Zee News (in Hindi). Retrieved 13 September 2024.
5. "20176/Agra Cantt. - Banaras Vande Bharat Express - Agra Cantt. to Banaras NCR/North Central Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
6. "20176/Agra Cantt. - Banaras Vande Bharat Express - Agra Cantt. to Banaras NCR/North Central Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
7. "Train 18, India's Fastest, Named "Vande Bharat Express": Piyush Goyal". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
8. "Vande Bharat: वंदे भारत एक्सप्रेस में होने वाला है बड़ा बदलाव, अब होंगे 16 कोच - Agra Cantt Banaras Vande Bharat Express to Get 16 Coaches". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 29 May 2025.