2 more trains to boost Ferozepur-Delhi rail link

It is “double bonanza” for this border town as two more trains have been introduced to connect it with the national capital, giving boost to tourism and trade in the region. 

While the first train, Vande Bharat Express, announced last month will start chugging next Friday, Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu declared on November 1 that the Moga-New Delhi Intercity Express would soon be extended to Ferozepur.

The Vande Bharat Express will start from Ferozepur at 7.55 am and travel via Bathinda, Dhuri, Patiala, Ambala, Kurukshetra and Panipat before reaching Delhi at 2.35 pm. It will commence its return journey from Delhi at 4 pm and reach Ferozepur at 10.30 pm. The train will operate six days a week, except on Wednesdays. The Delhi-Moga Intercity Express, which begins its journey from Delhi at 7 am, will reach Ferozepur at 3 pm. It will start its return journey at 3.35 pm and reach New Delhi at 11.35 pm.

These new trains will connect five military stations en route from the Ferozepur Cantonment to Delhi via Faridkot, Bhatinda, Patiala, Ambala and eventually Delhi. Thousands of Army jawans and officials posted in these locations will find it convenient to travel to their homes or places of posting further ahead of Delhi.

Senior BJP leader Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi said on November 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would flag off four new "Vande Bharat Express" trains across the country, including the Ferozepur-Delhi one. He said several major trains have been started from this border district during the recent times. "Earlier this year, train services to Haridwar and Huzur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, were started. Another new train to Rameshwaram was launched. The Ferozepur-Chandigarh train, which had been lying defunct for long, was also resumed," said Sodhi.

Thanking PM Modi and Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav, Bittu said the long-pending demand of the residents of this area had finally been fulfilled. “These trains will not only benefit the passengers but will also give significant boost to trade and community in the region," said Bittu.

Sanjeev Kumar, a local trader, said earlier traders belonging to this regions used to depend on Punjab Mail for going to Delhi, which being a night train was not suitable for traders. “Now we can start our journey in the day and come back the same night which will be very helpful for us," said Sanjeev, adding that every day hundreds of businessmen go to the national capital for trade.