After Ramayana Express, Indian Railways is planning to launch Jagannath Express during the world famous Rath Yatra festival in Puri next year.

The special tourist service will be launched under 'Bharat Gaurav' train initiative, launched by the national transporter to facilitate visitors on a pilgrimage tour to Odisha.    

While the itinerary and other details are being worked out, the proposed Jagannath Express consisting of AC and non-AC coaches is expected to be operational in July next year to showcase Odisha's rich culture, art, tradition and cuisine.

It will be the second theme-based tourist circuit 'Bharat Gaurav' train after Ramayana Express.

Besides, the seaside town of Puri famous for the 12th-century temple of Lord Jagannath, the passengers would also get a chance to visit other tourist places including Konark temple, the World Heritage Site and Chilika lake, Asia's largest brackish lagoon and also a major tourist attraction for its Irrawaddy dolphins.

Visitors would also be facilitated to visit the near-by Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar. Railways is also considering launching semi high-speed Vande Bharat Express trains between Puri and Howrah.

According to the plan, the Railways would be ramping up Vande Bharat production from February next year at Integral Coach Factory (ICF).

Besides, ICF, other production units at Latur, Raebareli, Kapurthala and Sonepat will also be manufacturing Vande Bharat trainsets, as about nearly 500 such semi-high speed trains are to be ready by the next three years.  

It is essential to have the entire route to be electrified for the Vande Bharat operation, as the semi-high speed trains would run only on the electrified tracks.