20978 Vande Bharat Express: Chandigarh to Ajmer

20978 time table

The full Vande Bharat Express 20978 time table, from Chandigarh to Ajmer Jn. Day 1 is the day the train leaves Chandigarh.

These are scheduled times, checked on 11 November 2026 against two independent timetable sources. On the day you travel, the live times on NTES take priority.

20978 route and stops

20978 stops at 8 stations between Chandigarh and Ajmer: Ambala Cantt, Delhi Cantt, Gurgaon, Rewari, Alwar, Gandhinagar Jaipur, Jaipur, Kishangarh. Leaving Chandigarh at 15:15, 20978 runs 68 km to Ambala Cantt, arriving at 15:53 after 38 min. From Ambala Cantt it covers 203 km to Delhi Cantt in 2 h 28 min, arriving at 18:23. From Delhi Cantt it covers 17 km to Gurgaon in 22 min, arriving at 18:50. From Gurgaon it covers 52 km to Rewari in 48 min, arriving at 19:40. From Rewari it covers 74 km to Alwar in 40 min, arriving at 20:22. From Alwar it covers 145 km to Gandhinagar Jaipur in 1 h 29 min, arriving at 21:53. From Gandhinagar Jaipur it covers 6 km to Jaipur in 10 min, arriving at 22:05. From Jaipur it covers 109 km to Kishangarh in 1 h 8 min, arriving at 23:18. The last stretch, 25 km from Kishangarh, takes 38 min and ends at Ajmer at 23:58.

Over the whole 699 km the average speed is about 80 km/h, including stops. The fastest stretch is Rewari to Alwar, 74 km at an average of about 111 km/h. The longest run without a stop is Ambala Cantt to Delhi Cantt, 203 km. In all, the train stands at stations for about 22 minutes; the longest halt is 5 minutes at Delhi Cantt. Compare it with other trains in Vande Bharat speed, and on board watch your live speed with the Vande Bharat speed checker.

20978 running status

This page shows the scheduled timetable; it does not track 20978 live. To see where 20978 is now and how late it is running:

1. Open the official NTES running status page or the NTES app.
2. Enter the train number, 20978.
3. Choose the date the train left Chandigarh.
4. NTES shows the last station passed, the expected time at each stop and any delay.

To see where 20978 should be at this moment by its timetable, with the next stop and time left to Ajmer, open the Vande Bharat live location tool; it is a scheduled position, so use NTES for the real one.

If 20978 runs more than 3 hours late and you decide not to travel, you get the full fare back; under IRCTC's published rules you file a TDR before the train actually leaves. See Vande Bharat TDR and late train refund.

20978 running days

20978 runs six days a week and does not run on Wednesday. The running day is the day the train leaves Chandigarh. The return train 20977 runs every day except Wednesday. Check any date with the running days checker.

20978 fare

Fares for the full journey from Chandigarh to Ajmer, one adult, General quota, with the meal. These are IRCTC fares as listed on erail.in and matched against its fare calculator, checked on 12 November 2026. The no-food price is not shown because we do not have the meal charge for this train.

The fare includes the reservation charge, superfast charge and GST. A shorter journey costs less; IRCTC shows the fare for your exact stations when you search. See Vande Bharat ticket price for other routes.

How to book 20978

Book 20978 on IRCTC, the official Indian Railways booking service, or at a reservation counter. Search CDG to AII, or any pair of stations on its route, and pick CC or EC.

• Booking opens 60 days before the journey at 08:00 IST, counted from the day 20978 leaves Chandigarh.
• Tatkal: opens at 10:00 IST the day before the train leaves Chandigarh.
• First chart: prepared by 05:15 on the day of departure, for a 15:15 departure from Chandigarh. The final chart is made about 30 minutes before departure.
• Platform: not fixed in advance. It is announced at the station on the day; check the display boards or NTES.

Step-by-step help is in the Vande Bharat booking guide.

20978 cancellation deadlines

Cancellation charges depend on how long before 20978 leaves Chandigarh at 15:15 you cancel a confirmed ticket. Under the 72, 24 and 8-hour bands announced in March 2026, you pay only the flat charge (₹189 in CC, ₹252 in EC, with GST) until 15:15 three days before, 25% of the fare until 15:15 the day before, 50% until 07:15 on the day of departure, and nothing comes back after that. IRCTC's published rules still use 48, 12 and 4 hours, which for 20978 fall at 15:15 two days before, 03:15 on the day of departure and 11:15 on the day of departure. Details are in Vande Bharat cancellation charges.

20978 coach position and classes

20978 has AC Chair Car (CC) and Executive Chair Car (EC) seats. CC coaches seat 78 in a 3+2 layout (44 in the driving coach at each end); EC coaches seat 52 in a 2+2 layout, and the seats rotate. The coach order is not published train by train, so check the coach guidance board on the platform or the RailOne app for where your coach stops. See the Vande Bharat seat map.

Food on 20978

Meals on 20978 are optional. You choose a meal or No Food when you book on IRCTC, and the fare changes to match. The meal charge depends on how many meals the journey covers, so it can differ between trains on the same route. See Vande Bharat food.

Return train 20977

20977 runs the other way, from Ajmer at 06:10 to Chandigarh at 14:45, in 8 h 35 min, and runs every day except Wednesday.

The Ajmer – Chandigarh Vande Bharat Express (20977 / 20978) guide covers every train, stop and fare on this route.

20978 Vande Bharat FAQs

What is the departure time of 20978?
20978 leaves Chandigarh (CDG) at 15:15.

What time does 20978 reach Ajmer?
20978 reaches Ajmer Jn (AII) at 23:58, after 8 h 43 min.

How can I check the running status of 20978?
On NTES, the official National Train Enquiry System: enter 20978 and the date the train left Chandigarh to see where it is and any delay.

On which days does 20978 run?
Every day except Wednesday, counted from its departure from Chandigarh.

How many stops does 20978 have?
8 stops between Chandigarh and Ajmer: Ambala Cantt, Delhi Cantt, Gurgaon, Rewari, Alwar, Gandhinagar Jaipur, Jaipur, Kishangarh.

What is the fare of 20978?
For the full journey, ₹1,695 in CC, ₹3,150 in EC (IRCTC fares via erail.in, 12 November 2026).

When is the chart prepared for 20978?
The first chart is prepared by 05:15 on the day of departure, and the final chart about 30 minutes before the 15:15 departure.

What is the platform number of 20978?
It is not fixed in advance. The platform is announced at Chandigarh on the day; check the station display boards or NTES.

What is the return train of 20978?
20977, from Ajmer at 06:10 to Chandigarh at 14:45.

Sources

Timetable: erail.in and ConfirmTkt, both checked on 11 November 2026; live running: NTES. Fares: IRCTC fares listed on erail.in, 12 November 2026. Booking and cancellation rules: IRCTC and the Ministry of Railways. Report a correction.