Janakpur, Nov. 9: Nepal and India accelerate preparations for the Janakpur-Ayodhya train service to boost religious tourism on the Ramayana Circuit.

The dream of a direct rail link between the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya and the birthplace of Mata Sita in Janakpur is rapidly becoming a reality. India and Nepal have significantly ramped up preparations for the highly anticipated Janakpur-Ayodhya cross-border train service, a move designed to revolutionize religious tourism along the sacred Ramayana Circuit.

A major milestone was reached on Thursday, November 5, 2026, when a massive technical trial run was successfully conducted. An Indian train, consisting of 17 coaches and powered by a WDP-4D 40370 locomotive, traveled from Jayanagar in India to Kurtha station in Janakpur, Nepal. This trial was crucial to test the connectivity and track readiness for the proposed 464-kilometer journey.

Following the trial, a joint team of railway, security, and customs officials from both nations conducted thorough on-site inspections. Their focus remained on evaluating track capacity, testing safety systems, and determining the specific operational requirements needed to run international services smoothly.