Routes such as Lucknow-Kanpur, Varanasi, Meerut, Ghaziabad and Aligarh are being considered for fast, air-conditioned local trains under the plan.
The Lucknow-Kanpur rail route is among the priorities. It is one of the busiest rail corridors in Uttar Pradesh, and MEMU trains are being planned at shorter intervals in a pattern similar to Mumbai’s local services. A significant number of MEMU trains operated on the route before the Covid period, but their number has since declined. Under the proposed plan, local trains would operate at intervals of 15-20 minutes.
In eastern Uttar Pradesh, services on the Gorakhpur-Deoria-Basti route are also proposed to be increased because of heavy passenger demand. In Purvanchal, a local train network is also planned for the Varanasi-Prayagraj-Bhadohi route.
In western Uttar Pradesh, high-speed local MEMU trains are proposed on the Ghaziabad-Meerut-Aligarh-Khurja route, covering areas connected to Delhi-NCR.
The North Eastern Railway has sought details from zones including Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur and Meerut to identify rail routes with high numbers of daily commuters and assess the potential for local train services. The names of potential routes have also been sent to the Railway Board.
The first phase of the plan is being prepared for launch from August 2027. In this phase, AC trains based on MEMU technology are proposed to be introduced on the approximately 72-km Lucknow-Kanpur route and the Ghaziabad-Aligarh route.
The second phase is scheduled for 2028-2029 and will connect major eastern Uttar Pradesh routes, including Varanasi-Prayagraj and Gorakhpur-Deoria, with the local rail grid.
The target is to convert ordinary trains on suburban routes in Uttar Pradesh and across the country, similar to Mumbai’s suburban network, into modern metro-like local trains with automatic doors by 2030.
Like Mumbai local trains, the proposed services would have more coaches designed for unreserved travel, including space for both seated and standing passengers. The objective is to enable travel in less time and at lower fares.
The proposed E-MEMU trains on local routes will use Japanese technology that allows them to accelerate quickly and apply sudden braking. This is expected to reduce the time required for trains to stop at railway stations and depart from them.
Small and halt stations will also be upgraded as part of the plan to improve connectivity to remote areas. Fares for MEMU and local trains are expected to remain considerably lower than those for buses and private vehicles, helping reduce travel expenses for middle- and lower-income passengers.
The proposed expansion is also aimed at reducing pressure from private vehicles and buses on roads and national highways, potentially easing traffic congestion and reducing road accidents. Improved rail connectivity between rural and semi-urban areas and major cities is also expected to make daily movement easier and create new employment opportunities.
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