Cuttack, Ap 1: In a bid to enhance long-distance travel and passenger convenience, Indian Railways has introduced two new pairs of weekly express trains connecting the eastern and southern parts of the country.
The first service, the Santragachi–Yelahanka–Santragachi AC Express (Train Nos. 18063/18064), will commence on April 2, 2026. Train No. 18063 will depart Santragachi every Thursday at 12:50 pm and arrive at Yelahanka, Karnataka, early Saturday at 12:20 am. On the return leg, Train No. 18064 will depart Yelahanka every Saturday at 4:50 am and reach Santragachi on Sunday at 5:00 pm.
The second service, the Shalimar–MGR Chennai–Shalimar Weekly Express (Train Nos. 18041/18042), will begin operations from April 6, 2026. Train No. 18041 will depart Shalimar every Monday at 2:45 pm and arrive in MGR Chennai the following day at 4:45 pm. On the return journey, Train No. 18042 will leave Chennai every Tuesday at 6:45 pm and reach Shalimar on Thursday at 4:00 am.
Both trains will pass through major stations under the East Coast Railway, including Bhadrak, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road, Brahmapur, Vizianagaram, and Duvvada, significantly improving connectivity for passengers across Odisha.
The introduction of these new services is expected to strengthen rail links between West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, providing passengers with more travel options and easing regional connectivity.
