No New Vande Bharat Trains Announced from Pune, Clarifies Railway Officials
Reported by Amit Singh
Pune, 23rd July2025: Recent reports circulating about the introduction of four new Vande Bharat Express trains originating from Pune have been officially denied by railway authorities. Despite widespread excitement on social media and posts by political leaders, officials from Central Railway and Pune Division confirmed that no such proposal has been approved or communicated by the Railway Board.
Railway Authorities Deny Approval
Padmasinh Jadhav, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM), Pune Division, clarified that, “No formal communication has been received regarding any new Vande Bharat trains. We do not have any official communication regarding the new Vande Bharat Trains as mentioned in some of the media reports. Whenever any new train service is announced, it will be duly advised” Jadhav stated.
Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Central Railway, also confirmed, “At present, Central Railway does not have any information about running any new Vande Bharat train. Whenever such information is available, it will be shared with the media and the public.”
Clarification from Pune Division PRO
Hemant Kumar Behera, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Pune Division, noted that he has contacted multiple media platforms over the past few days, requesting correction of the unverified information. “This news is not confirmed by railway officials. We have asked media outlets to modify and correct the reports in the interest of public awareness,” Behera said.
Viral Posts by Political Leaders
Despite the lack of official confirmation, the reports have sparked widespread discussions online. A post by BJP MLA Mahesh Landge from Bhosari on platform X went viral, stating:
“🚄✨ Big Boost for Pune! 4 New Vande Bharat Express Trains Announced ✨🚄
Great news for commuters, tourists, and businesses — Pune is all set to get 4 new Vande Bharat Express trains, connecting the city to Shegaon, Vadodara, Secunderabad, and Belagavi.”
Railway officials have reiterated that this statement is not based on any confirmed announcement from the Ministry or the Railway Board.
Existing Services and Feasibility Analysis
Punekar News conducted an internal analysis of current Vande Bharat operations and logistical feasibility:
1. Belagavi is already connected via the Pune–Hubballi Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 20670), which departs Pune at 14:15 hrs and reaches Belagavi at 20:15 hrs, operating thrice a week with an average occupancy of 70–80%. In case of increased demand, authorities suggest enhancing frequency or rake length instead of introducing a new train on the same route.
2. Shegaon currently lacks terminal infrastructure suitable for originating or terminating a Vande Bharat Express. However, there remains a possibility that Shegaon may receive a halt in the upcoming Pune–Nagpur Vande Bharat Express, announced previously by the Railway Minister during a Pune event.
Procedure for Launching New Trains
Dr. Ramdas Bhise, Senior Divisional Operations Manager (Sr. DOM), explained the multi-layered process required to launch new train services. “Starting any train involves a detailed feasibility study, including operational and commercial assessments conducted by the division. In the case of Vande Bharat Express, however, the decisions are centralized and taken by the Ministry of Railways in consultation with railway headquarters.”
Current Status
As of now, there is no official proposal or plan to start new Vande Bharat Express trains from Pune to Shegaon, Vadodara, Secunderabad, or Belagavi. Railway officials urge the public and media to rely only on verified information released through authorized channels.
