Ajmer Junction – Chandigarh Junction Vande Bharat Express
Overview
Service type	Vande Bharat Express
Locale	Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Chandigarh
First service	12 April 2023 (Inaugural run) 13 April 2023; 20 months ago (2023-04-13) (Commercial run)
Current operator(s)	North Western Railways (NWR)
Route
Termini	Ajmer Junction (AII) Chandigarh Junction (CDG)
Stops	7
Distance travelled	678 km (421 mi)
Average journey time	08 hrs 25 mins
Service frequency	Six days a week [a]
Train number(s)	20977 / 20978
Line(s) used	Ahmedabad–Jaipur line Jaipur–Delhi line Delhi–Kalka line (till Chandigarh Jn.)
On-board services
Class(es)	AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car
Seating arrangements	Airline style Rotatable seats
Sleeping arrangements	No
Catering facilities	On-board catering
Observation facilities	Large windows in all coaches
Entertainment facilities	On-board WiFi Infotainment System Electric outlets Reading light Seat Pockets Bottle Holder Tray Table
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks
Other facilities	Kavach
Technical
Rolling stock	Vande Bharat 2.0
Track gauge	Indian gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed	81 km/h (50 mph) (Avg.)
Average length	480 metres (1,570 ft) (20 coaches)
Track owner(s)	Indian Railways
Rake maintenance	Madar Coaching Depot (Ajmer)
Route map Legend 20977 ↓ Ajmer Junction Jaipur Junction Alwar Junction Rajasthan Haryana border Rewari Junction Gurgaon Haryana New Delhi border Delhi Cantonment New Delhi Haryana border Ambala Cantonment Junction Haryana Chandigarh border 20978 ↑ Chandigarh Junction

The 20977/20978 Ajmer - Chandigarh Vande Bharat Express is India's 14th Vande Bharat Express train, connecting the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi and Chandigarh.^[1] This express train is an extension of the former Vande Bharat Express train which ran from Ajmer Junction till Delhi Cantonment.^[2][3][4]

This train is operated by Indian Railways, connecting Ajmer Jn, Jaipur Jn, Gandhinagar Jaipur railway station, Alwar Jn, Rewari Jn, Gurgaon, Delhi Cantonment, Ambala Cantonment Jn and Chandigarh Jn. It is currently operated with train numbers 20977/20978 on 6 days a week basis.^[5][6][7]

It is the twelfth 2nd Generation Vande Bharat Express train and was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) under the leadership of Sudhanshu Mani at Perambur, Chennai under the Make in India initiative.

The Ajmer–Chandigarh Vande Bharat Express will be the world's first semi high-speed passenger train on high rise overhead electric (OHE) territory.^[8][9]

The 20977/20978 Ajmer - Chandigarh Vande Bharat Express operates 6 days a week, covering a distance of 678 km (421 mi) in a travel time of 08 hrs 25 mins with an average speed of 81 km/h (50 mph). The Maximum Permissible Speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).

The train service has been extended upto Chandigarh on 12 March 2024 due to low occupancy of 48%.

• Vande Bharat Express
• Tejas Express
• Gatimaan Express
• Ajmer Junction railway station
• Delhi Cantonment railway station
• Chandigarh Junction railway station