Delhi to Agra in 59 minutes, Lucknow in 2 hours and Varanasi in 3.5 hours: PM Modi approves bullet train corridor that could bring North India’s top destinations closer

Delhi to Agra in 59 minutes

In a recent major travel update, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Northern Corridor of India’s bullet train network. When completed, the journey from Delhi to Agra could only take just 59 minutes, while reaching Lucknow may take a little over two hours. The news was announced by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on October 31, 2026.As per update, the minister announced the development in Varanasi ahead of flagging off the new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express between Varanasi and New Delhi, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI) and Akashvani.Vaishnaw said, “The prime minister has approved the north corridor of the bullet train, which will change the lives of many. The vision for the bullet train shared by the prime minister will greatly benefit the youth, the middle-income group, and artisans in small-scale industries. People will remember Prime Minister Modi for the next 100 years for this initiative.”More about the proposed corridorThe proposed corridor will start in Delhi and connect the following cities:

Not only this, the network is expected to reduce travel times significantly between important cities, making intercity journeys faster for tourists, business travellers and students.Delhi to Agra in 59 minutes?Vaishnaw also said that passengers would be able to travel between Delhi and Agra in just 59 minutes when completed.The Delhi-Agra connection could be important from a tourism point of view. Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, attracts domestic and international visitors throughout the year. A journey of less than an hour could make it easier for travellers to plan day trips from Delhi.Other proposed journey times include:

These are still indicative journey times shared by the Railway Minister and not the final timings. The government has not yet announced a detailed station-wise timetable for the proposed corridor.Which cities will the Northern Bullet Train Corridor connect

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement (AI Image)

The proposed route is expected to cover a large geographical stretch.As per update, the first stretch will connect Delhi with Agra and Kanpur, followed by Lucknow and Ayodhya. The network will then extend towards Varanasi and Prayagraj before connecting with Patna and Siliguri. Its proposed extension to Guwahati will provide high-speed rail connectivity towards the Northeast.For tourists, this could mean easier access to several popular destinations including Ayodhya and Varanasi which are two of India’s major religious tourism hubs.Prayagraj is known for the Triveni Sangam and the Kumbh Mela. Patna serves as an important gateway to Bihar’s historical and Buddhist tourism destinations, while Siliguri is a major transit point for travellers heading to Darjeeling, Sikkim and other parts of the eastern Himalayas.Bullet train project to be built under Make in India initiative“The construction is progressing rapidly. It will be fully ‘Make in India’, built by the youth and welders of India,” the minister said speaking about the project’s construction.He also said the proposed high-speed rail network would benefit young people, middle-income groups and artisans working in small-scale industries. Addressing concerns about affordability, he indicated that bullet train fares would be economical and lower than airfares.What is the latest official update on India’s bullet train network?

Bullet train project (Canva)

The Northern Corridor announcement comes amid the government’s broader push to expand high-speed rail connectivity across the country.In a February 3, 2026, Press Information Bureau (PIB) release on the Union Budget 2026-27, the Ministry of Railways outlined several proposed high-speed rail connections, including Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri. The official release projected a journey time of around 3 hours 50 minutes between Delhi and Varanasi and approximately 2 hours 55 minutes between Varanasi and Siliguri.The latest announcement by Vaishnaw provides further details about the proposed Northern Corridor and its expected journey times. However, important project details, including the final alignment, station locations, construction cost, implementation schedule and expected opening date, are yet to be officially announced.