Patna: The Indian Railways has extended the operational period of five pairs of special trains, including key services connecting Bihar with West Bengal, Maharashtra and Telangana, in view of sustained passenger rush and seasonal travel demand.
According to East Central Railway officials, the decision has been taken to ensure better seat availability and ease pressure on regular services during the ongoing high-demand period.
Patna–Howrah Special Extended till September
Train No. 02024 Patna–Howrah Special will now operate every Sunday until September 27. The return service, Train No. 02023 Howrah–Patna Special, will also run every Sunday up to the same date.
Officials said the extension is aimed at managing consistent passenger flow on one of the busiest inter-state routes linking Bihar and West Bengal.
Changes in Patna–Cherlapalli Special Services
Train No. 03253 Patna–Cherlapalli Special will continue to run every Monday and Wednesday until July 29.
The return services have also been extended, with Train No. 03254 Cherlapalli–Patna Special running every Wednesday until July 29, while Train No. 03255 will operate every Friday until July 31.
Extensions for Patna–Khurda Road and Raxaul–LTT Trains
Train No. 03230 Patna–Khurda Road Junction Special will now run every Thursday until July 30, while Train No. 03229 Khurda Road–Patna Special will operate every Friday until July 31.
Separately, Train No. 05557 Raxaul–Lokmanya Tilak Special will run every Tuesday until July 28, and Train No. 05558 Lokmanya Tilak–Raxaul Special will continue every Thursday until July 30.
Railways Cites Passenger Convenience
Saraswati Chandra, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Central Railway, said the extension has been made due to rising travel demand and holiday-season rush.
Officials added that the move is expected to reduce congestion on regular trains and help passengers secure confirmed reservations on long-distance routes.
