TAG 2026: Railways cuts travel time, introduces 122 new trains

New Delhi: Indian Railways has significantly enhanced network efficiency and passenger convenience under the Timetable of Trains (TAG) 2026, introducing 122 new trains and speeding up 549 existing services across its network to reduce travel time and improve punctuality.

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According to official data released by the Government, TAG 2026 also includes the extension of 86 trains, frequency increase of eight services, and conversion of 10 trains into superfast categories, reflecting a system-wide push to optimise operations and offer faster, more reliable rail travel.

Among railway zones, the South Western Railway (SWR) recorded the highest number of speeded-up trains at 117, followed by North Western Railway (89), Southern Railway (75) and Western Railway (80). Overall, 376 trains were speeded up by 5–15 minutes, while 20 trains saw time savings of over 60 minutes, substantially cutting journey durations on several key routes.

The 122 new trains introduced include a mix of premium and passenger services such as 28 Vande Bharat trains, 26 Amrit Bharat trains, 60 Mail/Express services, along with Rajdhani, Jan Shatabdi, Humsafar and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services, aimed at strengthening both long-distance and regional connectivity.

Indian Railways said the reforms under TAG 2026 underscore its continued focus on improving travel time, punctuality and operational efficiency, aligning rail services more closely with the needs of the common passenger while supporting economic and regional mobility across the country.

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