Why Agra–Udaipur Vande Bharat Will Be Discontinued From February 15 After 18 Months Of Operations

The semi high speed Udaipur City-Agra Cantt Vande Bharat Express will cease operations from February 15, 2026, bringing an end to its nearly one and a half year run.

The Railways has issued formal orders to withdraw the premium service, and reservations are available only up to February 14. From the following day, the train no longer appears for booking on the route.

Service That Began With High Hopes

Launched on September 2, 2024, the eight coach train operated three days a week between Udaipur City and Agra Cantt and three days between Udaipur City and Jaipur, with one day kept for maintenance. It arrived at Agra Cantt on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Departing Agra Cantt at 3 pm, the train reached Udaipur City at 11.45 pm, covering the 613 kilometre stretch in 8 hours and 45 minutes. At the time of its introduction, the service was projected as a faster and more comfortable option for passengers travelling between Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

However, officials say that the service struggled to attract sufficient passenger traffic. Travellers had to remain seated for nearly nine hours, while the fare was significantly higher than conventional trains. The time difference compared to other trains on the same route was only around 30 minutes, which made many passengers opt for more economical alternatives.

Rack Shortage Or Passenger Shortfall

While the Railways has officially cited low passenger numbers as the reason for discontinuation, a senior railway official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that shortage of Vande Bharat train sets is also a factor. The rake currently assigned to the Agra-Udaipur service is expected to be deployed for a new Asarwa-Udaipur City Vande Bharat Express scheduled to begin next month.

In addition, the Udaipur City-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express, which ran three days a week, is also set to be discontinued.

With this withdrawal, the number of Vande Bharat trains operating from or passing through Agra will drop from four to three.

Agra's Vande Bharat Network Shrinks

Before this decision, Agra Rail Division proudly highlighted that it handled four Vande Bharat services, a distinction held by only a few divisions nationwide. Agra first received the Rani Kamalapati-Hazrat Nizamuddin Vande Bharat Express, followed by the Khajuraho-Hazrat Nizamuddin Vande Bharat Express, the Agra Cantt-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express, and finally the Agra Cantt-Udaipur City service.

The inauguration of the Udaipur service in September 2024 was marked by controversy. Railway unions from Agra and Jaipur divisions clashed over operational control. On the first day, Agra division staff replaced Jaipur division's loco pilot and guard at Agra Cantt. Later the same day at Gangapur City station, union members from Jaipur division allegedly misbehaved with and assaulted Agra staff.

Impact On Students Travelling To Kota

The discontinuation is expected to particularly affect students from Agra who travel to Kota for medical and engineering entrance exam preparation. Thousands of students enrolled in coaching institutes in Kota had benefited from the faster connectivity offered by the Vande Bharat service, making it easier to travel home and return.

Earlier, students and their parents largely depended on passenger trains for the journey. With the premium train's withdrawal, many families may once again face longer travel times and limited convenient options.

Last Journey On February 14

According to the IRCTC website, advance reservations for train numbers 20981 and 20982 are available only until February 14. Those attempting to book tickets for February 15 are seeing the station marked as deleted on the portal, confirming that February 14, 2026, will be the final day of operation for the Agra Cantt-Udaipur City Vande Bharat Express.