Revised railway timetable to come into effect on January 1

The revised time table of the Southern Railway will come into force on January 1, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing modernisation and capacity enhancement of rail operations across the zone. This revision also reflects Southern Railway’s efforts to improve operational efficiency, punctuality and overall passenger experience. As part of this initiative, around 65 mail, express and superfast trains will operate at enhanced speeds next year, leading to appreciable reduction in travel time and improved punctuality. These speed enhancements have been made possible through extensive infrastructure development works, including track strengthening, improved maintenance practices, signalling upgrades and the introduction of enhanced safety systems.

Select mail, express and passenger train services operating over upgraded sections will benefit from improved schedule reliability and reduced journey duration. Prior to the implementation of higher speeds, comprehensive inspections and safety trials have been conducted to ensure full compliance with all prescribed safety standards. Train crew have also been suitably trained, and operational protocols have been updated to support the revised timetable seamlessly, said Railways in a statement here on Tuesday.