Vande Bharat Express count: Where does Odisha stand?

India has rapidly expanded its semi-high-speed rail network, with the number of Vande Bharat Express trains having surged to around 144 to 150 by July-August 2025.

Amid this rapid growth, Odisha has also firmly secured its place on this growing map, with six Vande Bharat Express services now operational, linking the state with Kolkata, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. Further, two more of these premium trains are also on the anvil.

Current Vande Bharat Trains In Odisha

The Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express (20836/20835) runs six days a week, except Tuesdays, with early morning departures from Puri and return journeys from Rourkela in the afternoon. The Puri–Howrah Vande Bharat Express (22896/22895), Odisha’s busiest route, connects the state capital region with Kolkata, operating six days a week except Thursdays.

Southern Odisha is connected by the Brahmapur-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express (20892), which departs at 5:15 am and reaches Jharkhand’s Tatanagar by afternoon. Western Odisha benefits from the Rourkela-Howrah Vande Bharat Express (20872), linking the steel city directly with Kolkata.

The Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express (20841), running six days a week except Mondays, strengthens ties with Andhra Pradesh, while the Raipur-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express (20829), passing through Titlagarh and Rayagada, connects Odisha’s western belt with both Chhattisgarh and coastal Andhra.

Together, these six trains serve industrial towns, pilgrimage centres, and major cities, providing faster connectivity, reduced travel times, and a modernised passenger experience.

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Major Upgrades For High-Demand Routes

Odisha’s Vande Bharat services have seen rapid upgrades in response to soaring demand. The Puri–Howrah Vande Bharat Express, the state’s longest such service, was expanded to a 20-coach configuration earlier this year.

It now runs with 16 AC Chair Cars, two Executive Class coaches, and two crew-cum-chair car coaches. This upgrade came after persistent demand from tourists, office-goers, and pilgrims.

Similarly, the Rourkela–Howrah Vande Bharat Express is set to be doubled from eight to 16 coaches, with the Railway Board approving the expansion. The move will ease heavy waiting lists on the busy corridor, especially during festive and peak travel seasons.

Odisha’s Upcoming Vande Bharat Expansions

Odisha is not stopping at six. Indian Railways and the Odisha government are mulling plans for a seventh and eighth Vande Bharat Express.

A new Tatanagar-Puri service will extend connectivity with Jharkhand, while the much-awaited and heavily demanded Jeypore-Bhubaneswar Vande Bharat Express is expected to bring southern Odisha onto the semi-high-speed rail network for the first time.