Passengers travelling by train in the new year may need to check their journey details before booking tickets, as several trains are set to get numbers and revised classifications. The revision will come into effect from January 1, 2027.
The changes will affect 18 services operated by Northern Railway, which will move from the Superfast category to regular Express trains from January 1, 2027. The affected services will also receive revised train numbers, and passengers will no longer have to pay the additional Superfast surcharge.
Southern Railway has also announced changes to several train services, including upgrades from Express to Superfast category and revisions to existing train numbers.
Here is a look at the major changes and the routes passengers should know about.
Northern Railway: 18 trains to lose Superfast status
Northern Railway has announced that 18 train services will be reclassified from Superfast to regular Express services from January 1, 2027. The change covers nine pairs of trains operating across routes connecting Delhi, Bihar, Punjab and Uttarakhand.
The affected services include trains running between Tanakpur and Delhi, Dehradun and Kathgodam, Moradabad and Ramnagar, Darbhanga and Jalandhar City, Muzaffarpur and Anand Vihar Terminal, among others. The revised train numbers will come into effect on the same date.
Why are these trains losing Superfast status?
As per Railway Board rules, a broad-gauge train must have an average speed of at least 55 kmph over its complete route to be classified as a Superfast train. The average is calculated using the total distance covered and the overall journey time. Factors such as additional stoppages, congestion on railway routes and longer halts can increase travel time and affect a train’s average speed.
Following the review, Northern Railway has decided to move the 18 services to the regular Express category and assign them new train numbers, according to News18.
Full list of 18 Northern Railway trains with revised numbers
Northern Railway has revised the numbers of 18 train services from January. The old and new train numbers are listed below.
1. Tanakpur – Delhi Junction: 12035 → 15317
2. Delhi Junction – Tanakpur: 12036 → 15318
3. Dehradun – Kathgodam: 12091 → 15315
4. Kathgodam – Dehradun: 12092 → 15316
5. Moradabad – Ramnagar: 25013 → 15313
6. Ramnagar – Moradabad: 25014 → 15314
7. Moradabad – Ramnagar: 25035 → 15335
8. Ramnagar – Moradabad: 25036 → 15336
9. Islampur – New Delhi: 20801 → 18633
10. New Delhi – Islampur: 20802 → 18634
11. Darbhanga – Jalandhar City: 22551 → 15541
12. Jalandhar City – Darbhanga: 22552 → 15542
13. Patliputra – Chandigarh: 22355 → 13255
14. Chandigarh – Patliputra: 22356 → 13256
15. Muzaffarpur – Anand Vihar Terminal: 12557 → 15577
16. Anand Vihar Terminal – Muzaffarpur: 12558 → 15578
17. Rajgir – New Delhi: 12391 → 13291
18. New Delhi – Rajgir: 12392 → 13292
How much can passengers save after the Superfast status change?
Passengers travelling on Superfast trains pay an additional surcharge over the basic ticket fare. Once the affected Northern Railway services are reclassified as regular Express trains, this additional Superfast surcharge will no longer apply.
The surcharge reduction will vary depending on the travel class. Passengers travelling in Sleeper Class will save ₹30, while those in AC 3-Tier, AC 3-Tier Economy, AC 2-Tier and AC Chair Car will save ₹ 45. For First AC and Executive Class passengers, the reduction will be ₹75.
The changes represent the removal of the Superfast surcharge, not a reduction in the basic ticket fare. The final ticket price will continue to include applicable fares and other charges.
Southern Railway: Eight Express trains to be upgraded to Superfast services
Southern Railway has also announced that eight Express train services will be upgraded to the Superfast category from January 1, 2027. The services will receive revised train numbers along with the change in classification.
The announcement covers routes connecting Chennai Egmore, Rameswaram, Tambaram, Tiruchirappalli, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Nagercoil.
Eight Express trains are set to be upgraded as Superfast Express services, with revised train numbers and enhanced speeds, effective from 1st January 2027.????
#SouthernRailway #IndianRailways #SuperfastExpress #Travel #Journey https://t.co/xYZgQ91q2l
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) November 3, 2026
The Chennai Egmore–Rameswaram Express will be renumbered from 16751 to 20611, while the Rameswaram–Chennai Egmore Express will change from 16752 to 20612. The Tambaram–Rameswaram and Rameswaram–Tambaram Express services will receive new numbers 20613 and 20614, replacing 16103 and 16104, respectively.
Similarly, the Tambaram–Tiruchirappalli Express will change from 16807 to 22635, and the Tiruchirappalli–Tambaram Express from 16808 to 22636. The Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Nagercoil Express will be renumbered from 16351 to 20615, while the Nagercoil–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express will change from 16352 to 20616.
According to Southern Railway’s announcement, the revised numbers for the first seven services will take effect from January 1. The Nagercoil–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus service will receive its new number from January 3, 2027.
Train Nos. 22159/22160 #Mumbai CSMT – #Chennai Central Superfast Express will be renumbered as 11075/11076 and reclassified as Express services, effective from 1st January 2027.
#SouthernRailway #IndianRailways #SuperfastExpress https://t.co/DKr7aEP0na
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) November 3, 2026
In another announcement, Southern Railway said train numbers 22159 and 22160, operating between Mumbai CSMT and Chennai Central, will be renumbered as 11075 and 11076, respectively. The services will also be reclassified from Superfast to regular Express trains, with the revised numbers and classification coming into effect from January 1, 2027.
What should passengers keep in mind?
Passengers travelling on the affected Northern and Southern Railway routes should check the revised train numbers before booking tickets for journeys in January 2027.
Those using saved journey details or older timetables should also verify whether their train has been renumbered. It is important to check the individual effective dates, particularly for services whose changes will begin after January 1.
Indian Railways to change train numbers from January 2027; 18 Northern Railway services to lose superfast status
