Hajipur: In a bid to manage the surge in passenger numbers during the summer vacation, the East Central Railway operated 5,486 trips of special trains between April and June this year—more than double the 2,131 trips during the same period last year.
The move, aimed at providing smoother travel during peak demand, resulted in over 60 lakh additional reserved berths being made available. The railway zone, which spans key routes across eastern India, has prioritised ensuring comfort and accessibility for passengers amid the seasonal rush.
Despite the significant increase in train services, punctuality also saw a modest improvement. June 2025 clocked a punctuality rate of 82.66%, compared to 81.7% in June last year.
To further bolster passenger convenience, the East Central Railway introduced regular operations of 11 pairs of Vande Bharat trains, two pairs of Amrit Bharat trains, and one pair of Namo Bharat trains. Several trains were also provided additional stoppages at various stations based on local demand.
Efforts have also been made to streamline ticketing and curb malpractice. The Advance Reservation Period (ARP) has been reduced from 120 days to 60 days. In a significant move to prevent misuse by ticket brokers, Tatkal ticket bookings will now require OTP-based authentication linked to Aadhaar. Railway agents will also be barred from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the booking window.
