Indian Railways has unveiled plans for a new Vande Bharat festival special service connecting New Delhi and Patna, aimed at easing the significant passenger congestion anticipated during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja celebrations. This special service is designed to provide travellers with an additional, modern transportation option during one of the most demanding periods for the Indian rail network.
The service will operate under two distinct train numbers: train number 02252 will handle the route from New Delhi to Patna, while the return leg will function as train number 02251. To ensure maximum utility for commuters, the service is slated for 36 total trips, split evenly between the two directions. The operational schedule begins with preliminary departures from Delhi on October 16 and 18, and from Patna on October 17 and 19. Following these initial runs, a regular schedule will be established from October 21 through November 25 for departures from Delhi, and from October 22 through November 26 for departures from Patna.
According to the announced timetable, the Delhi-bound service (02252) will depart New Delhi at 8:35 am, reaching its destination at Patna Junction by 9:30 pm the same day. The return train (02251) is scheduled to leave Patna Junction at 10:00 am and arrive in New Delhi at 11:30 pm. On the recurring schedule, the Delhi-Patna service will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, while the Patna-New Delhi service will run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The journey is estimated to take approximately 13 hours to complete.
The route includes six intermediate stops to serve passengers along the corridor. The Vande Bharat train will pull into Aligarh Junction, Kanpur Central, Prayagraj Junction, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, and Ara. This specific route selection ensures connectivity for passengers travelling between key cities in northern and eastern India during the festive period.
Each train in this special series will consist of 16 coaches. As is standard for the Vande Bharat platform, passengers can expect modern train design and chair-car seating. Indian Railways has advised travellers to consult the official reservation system or the IRCTC website and mobile application to verify available classes, specific coach configurations, and the range of amenities provided for each individual trip.
Given that these services are specifically intended to alleviate the pressure of increased demand during the festival season, railway authorities suggest that potential passengers should secure their bookings as early as possible. Utilising the official IRCTC platforms remains the primary and most reliable method for checking seat availability and completing ticket reservations for these special holiday services.
This initiative follows a pattern of seasonal adjustments by Indian Railways to better manage the massive influx of passengers heading home for major holidays. By increasing the frequency of high-speed connections on the Delhi-Patna corridor, officials aim to reduce the waitlists on regular long-distance trains. Travellers are also reminded to monitor official updates regarding their specific train schedules, as travel conditions can fluctuate during the busy festive weeks.
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