Patna: A new Vande Bharat Express is set to be introduced on the Patna-Delhi route, initially as a Holi Special before becoming a regular service. The train’s rack has been prepared at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, and it will be operated by East Central Railway.
A senior railway official stated that once operational, the Patna-Delhi Vande Bharat Express will become the longest-distance Vande Bharat service in the country, covering approximately 1,000 km in under 12 hours. Currently, the Tejas Rajdhani Express (12309) from Rajendra Nagar Terminal takes around 12 hours 30 minutes to complete the journey. The new train is expected to offer a faster and more comfortable option for passengers traveling between Patna and Delhi.
Currently, Vande Bharat Express services operate from Patna to Ranchi, Howrah, Siliguri, and Lucknow. The Patna-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express is expected to run ahead of Tejas Rajdhani, departing Patna Junction at 7 pm and reaching New Delhi at 7:30 am the next day. On its return journey, the train will leave New Delhi at 8:25 am and arrive in Patna at 8 pm.
The train is expected to stop at Ara, Buxar, DDU (Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction), Prayagraj, and Kanpur Central, before reaching New Delhi. The Tejas Rajdhani Express departs Rajendra Nagar Terminal at 7:10 pm and Patna Junction at 7:35 pm—the Vande Bharat Express will depart 35 minutes earlier to maintain a faster schedule.
