Una to Operate 11 Trains as Railway Board Approves New Kartauli Express Services—Check Official Schedule
In a major infrastructural boost that is set to revolutionize regional connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, the Railway Board has officially greenlit two vital rail services operating via Una district. This comprehensive expansion layout includes the strategic extension of the high-profile Delhi-Daulatpur Chowk Himachal Express to the newly constructed Kartauli railway station, alongside the launch of a brand-new daily express train linking Kartauli with Ambala City. With these new connectivity links entering active operations, the cumulative count of daily trains running through the crucial Una junction will climb from 10 to 11, providing immense relief to thousands of daily commuters and regional tourists.
The Official Revision: Timetable Committee Clears Operational Blueprints
The administrative hurdle for this expansion was successfully cleared following a formal nod from the Railway Board's dedicated Timetable Committee, prompt orders for which have been formally issued to the Northern Railway headquarters. This expansion tracks closely with the recent extension of the Gurmukhi Express up to Amb-Andaura, showcasing a highly systematic push by Indian Railways to expand network coverage across the sub-Himalayan belt. Sanjay R. Neelam, Director (Coaching) of the Railway Board, has explicitly instructed operational wings to fast-track all technical protocols and finalize the official commercial launch dates immediately.
Complete Timetable Breakdown: New Operating Schedules Released
The newly finalized train timetables have been structured to ensure peak travel convenience for long-distance and daily office commuters alike:
Himachal Express (Up & Down Journey): The extended service will depart from New Delhi railway station at 10:50 PM, arriving at Daulatpur Chowk at 7:20 AM, and reaching its final destination at Kartauli at 7:50 AM the following morning. For the return leg, the train will steam out of Kartauli at 8:55 PM, executing an overnight journey to pull into New Delhi at 5:00 AM the next day.
Kartauli-Ambala City Daily Express: This new daily service is scheduled to depart Kartauli every morning at 8:30 AM, completing its transit to reach Ambala City by 12:55 PM. The return service will depart Ambala City at 4:15 PM, concluding its run at Kartauli by 8:25 PM.
High-Priority Station Halts: Key Stops Across Himachal and Punjab
To optimize regional transit accessibility, the newly introduced Kartauli-Ambala City Daily Express will service a series of highly critical intermediate stations. Commuters will be able to board and disembark the express service at major regional hubs including Daulatpur Chowk, Amb-Andaura, Una Himachal, Nangal Dam, Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar, Morinda, Sirhind, and Rajpura, effectively binding prime trading and religious centers across both states into a single, cohesive transportation grid.
The Strategic Pathankot Connection: Vision 2027 and the Jammu-Katra Transit Route
The current 12-kilometer rail track expansion from Daulatpur Chowk to Kartauli marks the initial phase of a larger strategic link leading toward Talwara. The Ministry of Railways has firmly locked in December 2027 as the completion deadline for the remaining 10-kilometer section. Under the current temporary transit framework, passengers can comfortably disembark at the new Kartauli terminal, take a short local bus ride to Talwara, and effortlessly access onward rail networks heading straight to Jammu-Katra via Pathankot, bypassing heavy mainstream traffic.
The Expanded Una Rail Grid: Full List of 11 Operating Trains
Following this latest operational upgrade, the complete roster of high-speed and passenger trains servicing the Una district sector stands as follows:
Jan Shatabdi Express (Daulatpur Chowk to New Delhi)
Gurmukhi Superfast Express (Amb-Andaura to Kolkata)
Gandhinagar Capital - Daulatpur Chowk Express
Hazur Sahib Nanded - Amb Andaura Superfast Express
Amb Andaura - Haridwar Passenger
Amb Andaura - Raipur Haryana Junction Service
Una Himachal - Indore Express (Bi-weekly)
Daulatpur Chowk - Ambala Passenger
Amb Andaura - New Delhi Vande Bharat Express
Extended Delhi-Kartauli Himachal Express
Brand New Kartauli - Ambala City Daily Express
