VARANASI: Four pairs of MEMU trains between Varanasi City and Rajatalab will enter regular service on Sunday, November 1, 2026, following their inauguration on Saturday, October 31. The new timetable gives residents along the Cantt, Banaras, Bhulanpur and Hardattpur corridor eight journeys across the day, with the first departure from Varanasi City scheduled for 5:15 AM IST.
For passengers starting at Rajatalab, the first citybound departure is 6:55 AM, reaching Varanasi City at 8:00 AM. Residents planning work, classes or appointments should check the departure from their own boarding station. Varanasi City, Varanasi Junction and Banaras appear separately in the timetable, so arriving at the correct station matters.
The departure pattern is especially useful for planning a return journey before leaving home. Services from Varanasi City leave at 5:15 AM, 7:45 AM, 9:10 AM and 4:00 PM. From Rajatalab, departures are listed at 6:55 AM, 10:50 AM, 1:00 PM and 5:25 PM. All times in this guide are IST, and the regular timetable takes effect on November 1.
The morning trains and intermediate stops
Train 65135 leaves Varanasi City at 5:15 AM. Its departures are listed as 5:32 AM from Varanasi Junction, commonly called Cantt, and 5:45 AM from Banaras. It then leaves Bhulanpur at 5:51 AM and Hardattpur at 6:00 AM before arriving at Rajatalab at 6:15 AM. Those intermediate departures allow passengers to use the service without travelling to its starting station.
The first return, train 65136, leaves Rajatalab at 6:55 AM. It departs Banaras at 7:27 AM and Cantt at 7:43 AM, reaching Varanasi City at 8:00 AM. A passenger needing an early arrival in the city should therefore distinguish this journey from the first outward train, which travels towards Rajatalab.
The second outward service, 65137, starts from Varanasi City at 7:45 AM. It leaves Cantt at 8:05 AM and Banaras at 8:17 AM, arriving at Rajatalab at 8:45 AM. The subsequent return starts at Rajatalab at 10:50 AM, leaves Banaras at 11:17 AM and Cantt at 11:33 AM, and reaches Varanasi City at 11:45 AM.
Later departures at a glance
| Direction | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Varanasi City to Rajatalab | 9:10 AM | 10:10 AM |
| Rajatalab to Varanasi City | 1:00 PM | 2:05 PM |
| Varanasi City to Rajatalab | 4:00 PM | 5:05 PM |
| Rajatalab to Varanasi City | 5:25 PM | 6:35 PM |
Train 65139 is the 9:10 AM departure from Varanasi City. It leaves Cantt at 9:30 AM and Banaras at 9:42 AM. The afternoon return from Rajatalab leaves Banaras at 1:30 PM and Cantt at 1:45 PM. These timings give passengers a way to compare the citybound arrival with the time of their appointment.
The final outward service, 65141, departs Varanasi City at 4:00 PM, Cantt at 4:15 PM and Banaras at 4:30 PM. On the evening return, departures are listed at 6:05 PM from Banaras and 6:20 PM from Cantt before the 6:35 PM arrival at Varanasi City. Travellers should check the displayed destination as well as the departure time when boarding.
The published endpoints put each of the first three outward journeys at one hour and the 4:00 PM trip at one hour and five minutes. In the other direction, the listed journeys take between 55 and 70 minutes. These are scheduled station to station durations, so passengers still need to allow time to reach their boarding point.
What residents should do
Choose both legs of the journey and note the intermediate station times before setting out. The timetable has gaps between services, including between the 9:10 AM and 4:00 PM departures from Varanasi City. Missing one departure can therefore require a different travel arrangement. For current railway information, consult North Eastern Railway and the official train enquiry service, or check at the station.
The regular timetable was reported after the October 30 announcement and October 31 inauguration. For separate travel background, see the earlier Banaras to Prayagraj MEMU approval, the dated Banaras platform arrangements for October 30 and 31, and the November 2 Saharanpur special. Each concerns a separate service or dated arrangement.
