Maharashtra to Get India’s Longest-Running Vande Bharat Train Connecting Nagpur’s Ajni and Pune

Mumbai: Maharashtra is set to make railway history as it welcomes India’s longest-running Vande Bharat Express, connecting Nagpur’s Ajni to Pune. This will be the 12th Vande Bharat train for the state and a significant leap forward in high-speed rail travel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially inaugurate the train on August 10, 2025.

Operated and maintained by the Central Railway (CR) zone, the new Vande Bharat will cover a remarkable 881 km, making it the longest route for any Vande Bharat service in the country. It will also be the fastest train between Nagpur and Pune, maintaining an impressive average speed of 73 kmph.

The train, numbered 26101/26102 and named Pune–Ajni–Pune Vande Bharat Express, will begin its regular service from Pune station on August 11 and from Ajni station on August 12. It will run six days a week and halt at ten important stations: Wardha, Badnera, Akola, Shegaon, Bhusaval, Jalgaon, Manmad, Kopargaon, Ahmednagar, and the Daund Chord Line.

Designed for comfort and efficiency, the train will feature eight coaches—one Executive Chair Car (EC) and seven Chair Cars (CC)—with a seating capacity for 590 passengers. This state-of-the-art train is expected to transform travel across Maharashtra, offering faster, more comfortable, and more reliable connectivity for business travelers, students, and daily commuters.

Railway officials believe the Ajni–Pune link will be a game changer, enabling smooth travel from one corner of the state to the other and boosting regional trade, tourism, and employment opportunities.