Flagging off the train, the minister said though efforts had been made for the last several years for a train connection between the two districts, it was materialized during the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regime.
The five-day-a-week train would leave from Dumka to Ranchi at 2.20 pm.
Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren, JMM chief Shibu Soren, former deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey were among several leaders present during the ceremony at the Dumka railway station.
The minister agreed to consider the request made by several leaders to change the timing as the train would reach Ranchi at night.