Indian Railways Unleashes TAG 2026: 122 New Trains, 549 Services Accelerated
Overview
Indian Railways has launched the TAG 2026 timetable, introducing 122 new services nationwide, including 28 Vande Bharat trains. Additionally, 549 existing trains have been sped up, cutting travel times by up to 60 minutes or more on key routes. This overhaul aims to boost punctuality, operational efficiency, and passenger convenience across the network.
Indian Railways Overhauls Timetable Under TAG 2026
Indian Railways has enacted a significant timetable revision, TAG 2026, introducing 122 new train services and accelerating 549 existing ones nationwide. This strategic move aims to drastically reduce travel times, improve punctuality, and boost overall operational efficiency for passengers and freight.
Expansion of Services
The expansion includes a substantial addition of 122 trains, with Mail/Express services forming the largest segment at 60. Notably, 28 Vande Bharat trains are integrated to bolster semi-high-speed connectivity. The new fleet also features 26 Amrit Bharat trains, alongside specific additions like two Rajdhani, two Jan Shatabdi, two Humsafar, and two Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services. Some introductions fall under the TAG-TOD (Time on Demand) framework.
Speed Enhancements Across Network
More than 500 services have seen accelerated schedules. Specifically, 376 trains will now complete their journeys 5–15 minutes faster, while 105 trains will be expedited by 16–30 minutes. A smaller group of 48 trains will see journey times cut by 31–59 minutes, and 20 trains are scheduled to arrive 60 minutes or more ahead of their previous timings, offering significant time savings on long-distance routes.
Zonal Focus and Performance
Changes are not uniform, with specific zones experiencing larger overhauls. South Western Railway leads with 117 services sped up and eight new trains. North Western Railway added 12 new trains and accelerated 89 services. Western Railway introduced 10 new services and improved the speed of 80. East Central Railway also saw substantial expansion with 20 new trains and 20 extensions. These regional improvements reflect a targeted approach to optimize network performance and passenger experience.
