India is a country of enormous distances, and the Indian Railways network connects some of the most important cities, cultural centres, business hubs and pilgrimage destinations across the nation.
From Delhi to Mumbai, Mumbai to Chennai, Kolkata to Delhi, Delhi to Varanasi, and Chennai to Bengaluru, thousands of passengers travel every day by train.
Some railway routes are famous because they connect major metropolitan cities. Others are popular because they pass through historic towns, pilgrimage centres, mountains, rivers and some of India’s most beautiful landscapes.
In this guide, we look at some of the major railway routes in India, famous trains operating on these corridors, important cities connected by them, and what makes each route special.
Note: Train numbers, stoppages, schedules and services can change. Always check the current Indian Railways/IRCTC information before planning a journey. The Government Services Portal provides current train-name, fare, route and schedule search facilities.
🇮🇳 1. Delhi – Mumbai Railway Route
One of India’s Most Important Rail Corridors
Delhi and Mumbai are two of India’s biggest metropolitan and economic centres.
The railway corridor connecting them is among the country’s most important long-distance routes.
Major trains on this broad corridor include premium services such as Mumbai–New Delhi Rajdhani Express and other long-distance express services. Indian Railways’ official Rajdhani list includes the Mumbai Central–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani service.
Important cities and regions on the corridor
Depending on the train and route, passengers may travel through or near:
- New Delhi
- Kota
- Ratlam
- Vadodara
- Surat
- Mumbai
The journey provides a fascinating transition from northern India to western India.
Famous trains
Mumbai Central – New Delhi Rajdhani Express
This is one of the best-known premium rail services connecting the two cities.
Other express services also operate between Mumbai and Delhi through different routes.
🚆 2. Delhi – Kolkata Railway Route
Connecting India’s Capital With the City of Joy
The Delhi–Kolkata railway corridor is another major artery of Indian Railways.
It connects India’s political capital with one of its most historically important eastern metropolitan cities.
The route passes through important parts of northern and eastern India.
Major cities associated with the route
- New Delhi
- Kanpur
- Prayagraj
- Varanasi region
- Patna region
- Dhanbad
- Kolkata
The exact route and intermediate stops depend on the train.
Famous trains
One of the best-known services is the Kolkata Rajdhani Express, connecting Howrah and New Delhi. Indian Railways lists the Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani services among its Rajdhani trains.
🚄 3. Delhi – Varanasi Route
One of India’s Most Important High-Speed Intercity Corridors
Varanasi is one of India’s most famous spiritual and cultural destinations.
The railway connection between New Delhi and Varanasi is particularly important for both tourists and pilgrims.
The New Delhi–Varanasi Vande Bharat Express is one of the prominent trains on this corridor. The Ministry of Railways lists train numbers 22435/22436 for this service.
Why this route is popular
Passengers travelling between Delhi and Varanasi can experience a journey connecting:
India’s political capital → historic Uttar Pradesh → one of India’s oldest living cities.
🚆 4. Mumbai – Ahmedabad Railway Route
A Major Western India Connection
Mumbai and Ahmedabad are two major economic centres in western India.
The railway route between them is heavily used by business travellers, tourists and daily passengers.
One famous premium service is the Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express.
Indian Railways’ Shatabdi list identifies the Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad service as 12009/12010.
Important cities
- Mumbai
- Surat
- Vadodara
- Ahmedabad
This route is particularly interesting because it connects India’s financial capital with major industrial and commercial centres of Gujarat.
🚄 5. Mumbai – Surat – Vadodara – Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Corridor
The western railway network has also become an important part of India’s modern semi-high-speed rail expansion.
The Gandhinagar Capital–Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express is among the services officially listed by the Ministry of Railways.
The broad corridor connects important cities including:
Mumbai → Surat → Vadodara → Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar
This makes the route particularly important for business and leisure travel between Maharashtra and Gujarat.
🚆 6. Chennai – Bengaluru – Mysuru Route
A Major South Indian Railway Corridor
The Chennai–Bengaluru–Mysuru corridor connects three important cities of South India.
Chennai is a major industrial and cultural centre.
Bengaluru is one of India’s leading technology and business hubs.
Mysuru is famous for its royal heritage, palaces and tourism.
The Chennai Central–Mysuru Shatabdi Express is one of the best-known trains on this corridor. Indian Railways lists the service as 12007/12008.
🚄 7. Chennai – Coimbatore Route
The Chennai–Coimbatore corridor is one of the important railway connections within Tamil Nadu.
The route links:
Chennai → Salem region → Erode → Tiruppur → Coimbatore
A Shatabdi service operates between MGR Chennai Central and Coimbatore, listed by Indian Railways as 12243/12244.
A Vande Bharat service also operates on the Coimbatore–Chennai corridor, listed by the Ministry of Railways as 20643/20644.
🚆 8. Hyderabad – Mumbai Route
The Hyderabad–Mumbai corridor connects two major metropolitan regions in central-western India.
Important trains connect Hyderabad/Secunderabad with Mumbai through routes across Maharashtra and Telangana.
One notable premium service listed by Indian Railways is the Secunderabad–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Duronto Express, train numbers 12219/12220.
Major cities associated with the corridor
- Hyderabad
- Secunderabad
- Solapur region
- Pune region
- Mumbai
🚄 9. Hyderabad – Visakhapatnam Route
This is an important connection between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The route links:
Hyderabad/Secunderabad → coastal Andhra → Visakhapatnam
A Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express is among the Vande Bharat services listed by the Ministry of Railways.
This route is particularly useful for passengers travelling between Telangana’s capital region and Andhra Pradesh’s major coastal city.
🚆 10. Delhi – Jaipur – Ajmer Route
Rajasthan has strong railway connectivity with Delhi.
One of the famous premium trains on this corridor is the Ajmer Shatabdi, connecting New Delhi and Ajmer.
Indian Railways lists 12015/12016 Ajmer Shatabdi among the Shatabdi services.
The route is particularly popular with tourists because it provides access to:
- Jaipur
- Ajmer
- Rajasthan’s historic cities
- Major tourist destinations
🚆 11. Delhi – Amritsar Route
The railway connection between Delhi and Amritsar is important for tourism, pilgrimage and business travel.
The New Delhi–Amritsar Shatabdi Express is one of the best-known services on this route. Indian Railways lists the service as 12013/12014.
Amritsar attracts visitors because of the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and its historical importance.
🚆 12. Delhi – Lucknow Route
Delhi and Lucknow are two important northern Indian cities with strong rail connectivity.
The route connects:
New Delhi → Uttar Pradesh → Lucknow
One well-known premium service is the Lucknow Swarna Shatabdi, listed by Indian Railways as 12003/12004.
Lucknow is famous for its architecture, cuisine and cultural heritage, making this route popular among both business and leisure travellers.
🚄 13. Mumbai – Pune – Solapur Route
Maharashtra has an extensive railway network linking Mumbai with Pune and onward to Solapur.
A notable Vande Bharat service connects Solapur and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai. The Ministry of Railways lists it as 22225/22226.
There is also a Sainagar Shirdi–Mumbai Vande Bharat, connecting the pilgrimage centre of Shirdi with Mumbai.
🚆 14. Howrah – Chennai Route
The eastern and southern parts of India are connected by several long-distance services.
The Howrah–Chennai corridor is particularly important.
The official Indian Railways train-name index includes the MGR Chennai Mail, connecting Howrah and MGR Chennai Central.
This long-distance corridor provides an excellent example of how India’s railway system connects very different regions, languages and cultures.
🚆 15. Kolkata – Mumbai Route
The eastern metropolis of Kolkata is connected with Mumbai through major long-distance railway services.
One well-known service is the Howrah–Mumbai Mail, listed in Indian Railways’ train index.
This broad east-west corridor crosses several major regions of India and is important for both passenger and commercial connectivity.
🚆 16. Delhi – Jammu Tawi Route
The railway network also connects Delhi with the Jammu region.
The Jammu Rajdhani Express is one of the premium services listed by Indian Railways.
The route is especially important for passengers travelling toward Jammu and onward to popular pilgrimage and tourist destinations.
🚄 17. Delhi – Katra Route
One of the most important modern rail connections for pilgrims is between New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
The Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–New Delhi Vande Bharat Express is officially listed among India’s Vande Bharat services.
The route is particularly popular with devotees travelling to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
🚆 18. Mumbai – Indore Route
Mumbai and Indore are important commercial centres of western and central India.
A Mumbai Central–Indore Duronto Express is listed by Indian Railways, with train numbers 12227/12228.
This connection links Maharashtra’s financial capital with Madhya Pradesh’s major commercial city.
🚆 19. Pune – Hyderabad Route
Pune and Hyderabad are major IT, education, manufacturing and business centres.
Several railway services connect the two regions, providing an important rail link between Maharashtra and Telangana.
For travellers, the route offers a convenient alternative to road and air travel, particularly for passengers carrying luggage or travelling overnight.
🚄 20. Tirupati – Secunderabad Route
The railway connection between Tirupati and Hyderabad/Secunderabad is especially important for religious tourism.
The Tirupati–Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express is officially listed by the Ministry of Railways as train 20701/20702.
This route connects one of South India’s most important pilgrimage centres with Telangana’s capital region.
🌟 Some Famous Train Categories in India
India’s railway network includes several important premium and long-distance train categories.
🚄 Vande Bharat Express
Vande Bharat is India’s modern semi-high-speed trainset designed for intercity travel. The Government of India describes it as an indigenously developed semi-high-speed trainset with modern passenger amenities and safety systems.
As of 12 March 2026, the Ministry of Railways listed 162 Vande Bharat Chair Car services in operation.
🚆 Rajdhani Express
Rajdhani trains are premium services primarily designed to connect major cities with New Delhi.
Examples include:
- Mumbai Central–New Delhi Rajdhani
- Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani
- Sealdah–New Delhi Rajdhani
- Jammu–New Delhi Rajdhani
- Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani
These services are listed in Indian Railways’ official Rajdhani information.
🚆 Shatabdi Express
Shatabdi trains are generally daytime intercity services.
Famous examples include:
- New Delhi–Bhopal
- New Delhi–Lucknow
- New Delhi–Amritsar
- New Delhi–Ajmer
- Mumbai–Ahmedabad
- Chennai–Mysuru
Indian Railways’ official list provides the train numbers and endpoints for these services.
🚆 Duronto Express
Duronto services are known for connecting major cities with relatively limited intermediate stops.
Examples include:
- Mumbai–Indore
- Mumbai–Secunderabad
- Mumbai–Jaipur
- Howrah–Pune
- Howrah–Yesvantpur
- Yesvantpur–Delhi
These are listed in Indian Railways’ Duronto information.
🗺️ India’s Railway Network: Why These Routes Matter
Indian Railways is much more than a transport system.
It connects:
North India with South India.
East India with West India.
Metropolitan cities with smaller towns.
Business centres with industrial regions.
Pilgrimage destinations with millions of devotees.
Tourist destinations with travellers from across the country.
A train journey therefore becomes more than simply travelling from one station to another.
It is a way of experiencing India’s enormous geographical and cultural diversity.
❤️ Why Train Journeys Are Special in India
A flight can take you from one city to another in a few hours.
But a long train journey offers something different.
You can watch the landscape change outside your window.
You may begin among crowded urban neighbourhoods and eventually see farms, rivers, forests, mountains or coastal landscapes.
You meet passengers from different states.
You hear different languages.
You taste regional food.
And sometimes, a simple train journey becomes one of the most memorable parts of a trip.
That is one reason trains continue to hold such a special place in Indian life.
🇮🇳 Conclusion
India’s railway network is one of the country’s greatest connecting forces.
From Delhi to Mumbai, Kolkata to Chennai, Mumbai to Ahmedabad, Chennai to Bengaluru, Delhi to Varanasi, Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati to Secunderabad, trains connect some of India’s most important cities and destinations.
Premium services such as Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto have added different levels of speed and comfort to India’s long-distance railway network.
But the real strength of Indian Railways is not just speed.
It is connectivity.
Millions of passengers use the railway network to travel for work, education, business, tourism, family visits and pilgrimage.
From a small railway station to a massive metropolitan terminal, every route is part of a much bigger story—